City traders to pave way for development

ALL city traders operating on the parcel of land that houses a string of assorted businesses including Akagera Motors, SECAM and BENALCO, have been ordered to vacate the area to pave way for new modern buildings.Speaking to journalists on Friday, City Mayor, Fidele Ndayisaba, said over 150 traders were given ample time to prepare themselves to vacate the area for the construction of a state-of-the-art Rwf60 billion complex to be put up by several developers.The 3.5 hectares of land that lies between the main downtown roundabout, Centenary House, Kigali City Tower and Kwarubangura building, is earmarked for modern commercial buildings and hotels.Traders currently operating in the area had been issued with a 10-month notice and had up to August 25 to have moved.“They (traders) are all supposed to have moved by the end of tomorrow (today), they had enough time to prepare themselves,” Ndayisaba stressed.“We are not only moving these traders from this place for just modern buildings but also for wealth creation. There are many people who would want to operate in the central business district but due to limited infrastructure, they operate in far areas out of the city centre,” Ndayisaba said.The mayor said he is confident in the developers, saying there is a clear schedule on how their project will be implemented.“All their infrastructural projects are already designed, and this is because they know it’s a prime area where people are yearning to operate from,” he said, adding that they (developers) are ready to start construction.City officials say the move is part of a phased approach towards the implementation of the city master plan, especially in the central business district.When The New Times visited the area yesterday, most of the traders operating there were preparing to move while others had already moved with some shops shut down.“We saw the letters notifying us to move but as you know, it’s not easy to shift especially from a strategic place like this. I have been earning a lot which I may not get in another area,” lamented Jean Pierre Habiyambere who deals in electronics.Another business operator said he was ready to move although he said it would affect his business. “I am ready to relocate, I already booked the place I will operate from but my business will incur losses,” Oscar Mpazimaka, a clothes dealer said. One of the developers, Robert Ntigura, who is the project’s representative earlier told The New Times that the project comprises of a team of five proprietors.Besides him, other proprietors include renowned city tycoon, Françoise Mironko and Akagera Motors. Ntigura said he would put up a three-star hotel with an adjoining commercial building.According to the city officials, by the end of five years, the project will have been completed and, thereafter, plans for another five year would follow based on the master plan.The current five-year master plan implementation will also see the construction of a central sewerage system in the city. The construction of the plant was slated to start this year but officials deferred it over financial difficulties.City officials are still negotiating with the European Development Bank to put up the $70 million central sewerage plant, whose detailed physical master plan is already complete.The initial phase of five years will also see the development of the central business district as a financial and commercial hub.

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City traders to pave way for development