The Western Province Governor Celestin Kabahizi has denied media reports that authorities ordered the demolition of a commercial house belonging to Rusizi district mayor, Oscar Nzeyimana.The reports, relayed in some local media, suggested that the house was demolished last Saturday under the orders of unspecified authorities.The commercial house, located in Mulindi village, Ruganda cell of the urban Kamembe sector, Rusizi district, was allegedly constructed in violation of the law regulating roads reserves in the country.However, in an interview with The New Times, Governor Kabahizi rejected the claims that the district’s mayor might have received orders to put down his house. He said the house was demolished “by the mayor himself without any external pressure or order”.A local official in Kamembe sector, who asked not to be identified because he does not speak on behalf of the mayor, told this paper that the house was one of the many lined up to be razed so as to pave away for the renovation of the main road in the area.The well-informed source said though the mayor was yet to receive his expropriation fee, he “willingly and voluntarily” decided to take the house down.“I consider this a great example and I hope other residents [whose houses were identified to pave away for the construction of the road] will emulate the gesture,” Governor Kabahizi noted.
