Kimicanga landlords get two weeks demolition notice

Gasabo District authorities, over the weekend, held a meeting with owners of houses in Kimicanga, Kimihurura Sector, and resolved that the landlords should demolish their houses in a period of two weeks.The move is aimed at paving way for the development of the area in accordance with the Kigali City Master plan.According to the plan, the area will be developed into what has been called Kimicanga Entertainment District, which will host a variety of recreational facilities.Another part of the area has been earmarked for development of apartment blocks. The recommendation from the meeting attracted mixed reactions and tenants say that landlords have responded by giving them two to three days to find houses elsewhere.The neighbourhood has 492 landlords with 673 houses.“Two days is not enough for us to get houses, and as you know, one is meant to have money enough for him or her to pay for either three or four months,” said Judith Nyirashumbusha, an affected resident.Most of those interviewed said the decision does not consider or accord respect to tenants.Jeanne Mukarubibi, the head of the Humura Cell in Kimicanga confirmed to The New Times the resolutions of the meeting adding that: “Residents are finding it difficult finding alternative accommodation in nearby areas”,“It’s unfortunate that some tenants are being harassed by the landlords to get out of the houses so as to beat the two-week deadline,” Mukarubibi said. She stated that the meeting which was chaired by Gasabo Mayor, Willy Ndizeye, and other district officials, resolved that the two weeks given will start from today,The Mayor of Kigali City, Fidele Ndayisaba, said the decision was against the law.“That is not possible...residents have the right to stay there for a maximum period of three months after compensation, according to the law,” he said.He noted that payment of the first phase was done last month, adding that depending on when one was paid, landlords must respect the three-month deadline. The expropriation exercise that is being carried out through Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), will be done in two phases. It is expected to cost the government approximately Rwf 2.5 billion. To resettle the expropriated population, various areas have been identified. They include, Jabana, Gisozi, Bumbogo Gatsata and Nduba, all in Gasabo district.

National

Kimicanga landlords get two weeks demolition notice