Musanze residents angry over delayed compensation

MUSANZE – Over 559 residents of Musanze district, whose crops were destroyed during the construction of the Musanze- Rubavu road, have expressed anger over the district’s delay to pay their compensation set at Rwf182m three years ago. Speaking to The New Times, the angry residents from Shingiro, Gataraga and Musanze sectors, appealed for government intervention. “Most of our farmlands were destroyed and we were asked to open bank accounts. We never got any money and we have been sidelined instead, the district has always promised us to follow up the issue and we seem to be neglected now,” Leonard Munyanjeri who demands Rwf350,000 said. When contacted for a comment, the acting district Mayor, Winifrida Mpembyemungu, said that the district has compiled the lists of the claimants and forwarded them to the Ministry of Infrastructure which would effect the compensation. “We are concerned about this situation but I hope they will all be compensated by April this year,” Mpembyemungu said. She disclosed that about 35 claimants in the ‘emergency category’ including those whose houses were demolished were all compensated up to Rwf117m. She added that there had been delays due to the valuation process. Some residents made claims with no clear supporting documents, while others hiked the costs, she said. The farmers say they had been promised immediate compensation and accused the district of being complacent. Ends