Benefits of car-free zone must be well explained

Editor, RE: “Expedite amenities to liven Central Business District” (The New Times, August 29). The move to have a car-free zone in Kigali is a decision the city authorities had to make at one time or another. A true leader has got to implement a difficult decision even at the cost of losing popularity. Indeed leadership is about making difficult decisions and being ready to embrace the consequences. In Rwanda, we can see a number of difficult decisions over the years, among the most popular of which is the ban on use of plastic bags, the shift from French as the official language of instruction in schools to English, among others. The arguments provided by the authorities for both directives were timely and convincing and—however painful and inconveniencing these decisions were—Rwandans embraced and understood the long-term benefits. We are now arguably reaping the fruits of these decisions. I concur with most writers that lack of a people-oriented implementation plan for car-free zone policy is a disservice to the small mushrooming businesses in the affected area. The architects of the car-free zone need to educate the populace about its short and long-term benefits besides referring to the Kigali Master Plan. A city master plan is developed to serve the people and not to enslave them. Lack of adequate notice period and consultation with the public challenges the whole purpose of a green city. Rwandans cooperate when their opinion is sought, even though the latest decision goes against their popular opinion. I am convinced that the growing culture of consulting the public is what makes us a respectable nation – one of decent people and leaders. The writers concerns about a “dead” car-free zone are well founded. We should be very hesitant to draw comparisons with the western societies for the simple fact that context, culture and economic prowess enormously differ. We are nowhere close to western economies. Their standards of living and luxury are incomparable to the average and middle-income earners in Rwanda. Having a car-free zone in Kigali because there are many such zones in the west is a flawed argument which we should desist from. The benefits of a car-free zone to the few urban dwellers are arguably environmental. But there are financial benefits for a few high-level businesspersons and investors. A reduced profit margin due to sales reduction will force the lay business to relocate and rent a shop in one of the rapidly mushrooming shopping arcades in the city. The elite owners of such structures and basements with parking space will eventually be able to service their huge bank loans and endlessly thank the city authorities for a well-timed decision. Daoud

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Benefits of car-free zone must be well explained