Land reforms launched

The government yesterday launched the first phase of land tenure reforms stating that the new changes in land ownership and management would increase investments throughout the country. The Minister of Lands, Environment, Forests, Water and Mines, Stanislas Kamanzi, said that the reforms are part of Rwanda’s mechanisms for registering land titles and its proper use to ensure long equity in land ownership among all Rwandans. The reforms are partly funded by government and Britain’s Department for International Development (DfID) which has been funding land reforms in the country since 2002 spending about Frw 3 billion so far. The reforms started off with the passing of the National Land Policy in 2004 but was later amended at the launch of the Organic Land Law in 2005. Upon completion, the land reforms in the country are expected to stimulate investments and growth because they cater for the rights and protection of especially vulnerable groups in the country. They are also expected to help in resolving disputes in communities and promoting social harmony. According to the Ministry, the whole land regularization process would need US$ 40m to be completed in the next five years. Land issues have been a thorn to both local and national leaders in the country. It took President Paul Kagame’s personal intervention to resolve matters connected to unequal distribution of land in the Eastern province. In the first phase of the land tenure reforms launched today, Kamanzi said the government will ensure that land owners are given their titles and guarantee security of these titles, leasing arrangements for land owners ranging between 29 to 99 years, and strengthening the existing district land commissions. He added that the second phase would begin in March 2009. Ends