HUYE–A local leader in Mbazi Sector has been arrested and detained at Ngoma Police station over allegations of illegally seizing people’s property.According to local authorities, the Social Economic Development Officer and acting Executive Secretary of Rusagara Cell, Donat Nshimiyimana, was arrested last week. Huye District Mayor, Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka, told The New Times that the leader had been suspended from office prior to the arrest. Residents accused Nshimiyimana of confiscating their beans and goats in case they delayed to remit their contributions towards the community health insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé).An investigation carried out by police, in collaboration with local authorities, led to the suspension and arrest of the leader.“We found him in possession of 26 kilogrammes of beans he had seized from residents. However, we did not find any goat that he might have seized as claimed by the public,” Muzuka explained.“You cannot claim to implement a government policy using illegal means. There are acceptable ways of bringing residents to comply with health insurance other than confiscating their properties. Sensitisation is the best way”.Prior to his arrest, Nshimiyimana had told a local community radio that the accusations levelled against him were mere falsehoods.Local residents had also accused the leader of assaulting them. One of them, Roza Nyiramanegurwa, 85, had been hospitalised at Kabutare Hospital for the last two and half weeks after allegedly been assaulted by Nshimiyimana.However, Muzuka labelled the allegations as baseless, noting that their own investigations had exonerated the suspect.
