Gasabo finally issues plots to civil servants

Gasabo District has finally issued the long awaited plots to several civil servants who had applied and paid for them in 2005. Over 400 civil servants gathered at the site of Rusororo Sector in Gasabo District where each applicant received specifications of his/her plot by picking lots. “We apologize for having delayed, but we had to wait for the Kigali City Master Plan which detailed how all Districts should demarcate plots,” Gasabo Mayor, Willy Ndizeye, said shortly before picking of the lots begun. Beginning with Senator Emmanuel Mudidi, each person’s name was read and they went forward to pick a piece of paper, on which a plot’s number was indicated, from a basket. “With plot demarcations, everything has been finalized. Expropriation was also completed therefore there should be no worry for any other setbacks and on Monday everyone is free to come to the District to pursue all necessary documents to begin building,” said the Mayor . Despite the civil servants finally receiving their long awaited plots, some complained about reduction of the plot sizes they had previously paid for and imposing the types and materials to be used on the Houses. “Our plots were reduced by almost 50 percent! What kind of house can you build on a 20 x 30 or 15 x 20 plot? Secondly, the District should honour the agreement we had when we paid for those plots. Thirdly, they are imposing materials to be used in building and a particular model of houses to be built, not many of us can afford storied houses,” one of the civil servants who declined to give her name said. Responding to the queries, Gasabo Mayor told The Sunday Times in a separate interview that the District carried out a thorough study to find out whether the demarcated plots can accommodate a Rwandan family house. He also said that when demarcating the plots, the District was mindful of the possible population increase. “Many people have this culture of having these large houses but what about tomorrow and what about other activities needed around us, the whole land cannot be filled with only houses, we are not going to only build houses,” the Mayor noted. The previous District Administration apparently had made a mess of the process where people paid for plots in unknown areas leading to increased land wrangles. Charles Kayitaba, who represented his brother Abdul Karim, has a letter from the District confirming payment and rights to a ‘ghost’ plot. Karim’s name was not even on the list of those to get plots. Kayitaba says that he paid Rwf 3 million in cash for a high standing plot yet others paid Rwf 2.5 million for the same. According to the District records, at least 264 plots were fully demarcated on an 87 acre expropriated land. 87 plots were high standing whereas 177 plots were medium standing. According to the Mayor, the exercise of allocating and issuing plots will continue up to when all who applied for plots are covered. The civil servants came from different government institutions including Rwanda Revenue Authority, Kigali Institute of Education, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, National Public Prosecution Authority and some ministries. Ends