Response to the story about the closure of city market

Editor,I wish to clarify on some issues reported in the story “Traders decry closure of city market” published in The New Times last Friday. In the article you report that the proprietors wrote to the City of Kigali requesting for an occupation permit but never got a response.However, this is different from what actually happened. Following the request in November 2011, a technical team from the City of Kigali and Nyarugenge District visited the building and found out that there were more safety requirements that needed to be put in place before they were granted an occupational permit.The proprietors were duly informed about what they needed to do for them to get an occupational permit.However, they went ahead and opened the building to tenants and the public regardless of the fact that they hadn’t been granted necessary approval and construction works were still going on.This is the reason why on April 4, 2012, the City of Kigali requested the proprietors to first put in place the necessary safety requirements as they had earlier been informed before they recommence operating in the building.This decision was taken with the sole aim of protecting the safety of the occupants of the building and thousands of shoppers and clients who go there daily.It is very important that we adhere to the building codes as stipulated by the Rwanda Building Control and Regulations.The City of Kigali, through the Kigali Construction One Stop centre, will continue to facilitate all investors and ensure that they are accorded fast and efficient services.Bruno RangiraKigali

Opinions

Response to the story about the closure of city market