WESTERN PROVINCE KARONGI — For decades, residents of Karongi District put up settlements in wetlands without any hindrances. The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (Rema) recently ordered a ban on encroachments designated as wetlands. However, the residents in a reaction to the ban, argue that they had over the years been settling in wetlands without any restraint because of the poor terrain of the land in the district. More than 90% of old buildings in Kibuye town were built in wetlands. “We could simply build houses without any hindrance,” a resident noted. Another resident, Claudine Mukandutiye says people were constructing houses in wetlands because they had no capacity to level the hilly grounds. ‘You can see that all outskirts of this town are hilly. Not every one could afford constructing there due to lack of money to level such raised sites. Everyone preferred flat ground,’ she says, stressing that construction within the wetlands was affordable. However, despite some loss incurred by many as a result of the demolitions, Mukandutiye insists the new plan will change Kibuye town which she says has for long been lagging behind compared to other towns in the country. ‘The new move will at least make our town look better compared to the recent years,’ she says. To enforce the directive, Rema also said they would work hand in hand with area security organs to ensure that the law protecting the environment is respected. Ends
