MPs question legality of expropriations

The issue of unlawful removal of people from their land, usually in the name of public interest, is something lawmakers aim to address. This was highlighted on Thursday as the Lower Chamber’s Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Environment attempted to hold a consultative session with Minister of Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi, Minister of Infrastructure, Albert Nsengiyumva and Minister of State in charge of Community Development and Social Affairs, Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba. The session was postponed to next Thursday as the ministers requested that another date be set when they would be better prepared to answer the MP’s queries. Both parties agree that land wrangles, which often result from lack of following expropriation procedures, and what appears to be divergence within the laws governing land use, land lease, and others, are serious and should be addressed. MP Adolphe Bazatoha, the Chairperson of the Committee, also complained that there was also lack of clarity when it comes to how land lease prices are set.Kamanzi told MPs that one solution is to finalize the plan to streamline the various pertinent laws. “There are cases where procedures are not followed. This is often due to instances of sudden projects where you find local administrative authorities hurrying and not going through the set legal procedures,” he explained.“But I want to stress that what is set in pertinent laws must be followed and where things did not go well, we could put things in order.” Like other ministers, Dr. Mukabaramba supported the idea of giving the ministers more time to study all the issues and find out why land wrangles persist, before they return next week for a thorough discussion. The Constitution recognizes state and private property and grants every Rwandan the right to private property. The consultative session will thus dwell more on examining possible loopholes in the current legal framework.

National

MPs question legality of expropriations