New strategy to combat floods

In a bid to prevent the hazardous periodic floods which occasionally affect residents living near the banks of Sebeya River in Rubavu District, a weekly communal exercise will be conducted for a period of three months.This was disclosed by Prime Minister Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi after participating in yesterday’s monthly communal exercise (Umuganda) where he launched joint efforts to prevent the floods and disastrous landslides that have previously killed and displaced many.Habumuremyi joined residents who managed to plant over 10,000 trees on about 6 hectares of land neighbouring this river which usually bursts its banks due to its shallowness caused by continuous soil erosion from the surrounding hills.The Prime Minister urged the residents to dig terraces on surrounding hills since they reduce the speed of flowing water when it rains. “The government intends to effectively find a lasting solution towards this problem and you have a vital role to play by helping us implement the intended plans,” he said.Government officials from the ministries of Disaster Management, Health, Local Government and Natural Resources were also represented during the community exercise.Having assessed the extent of the damage caused by these torrential floods, Western Province Governor, Celestin Kabahizi, noted that the mining sites in Gishwati, Ngororero District had been shut down.