Survey unearths 6,000 land-related cases

A survey conducted between 2010 and 2012 identified at least 6,000 land-related cases that need urgent response to settle wrangles in ten districts. The survey was conducted by Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD) in ten districts of Kirehe, Kayonza, Karongi, Rubavu, Musanze, Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyaruguru, Gasabo, and Kicukiro. “There are various reasons we identified why the cases were not solved and among them were local mediators (Abunzi) had no capacity in terms of knowledge or skills to handle the cases,” said Annie Kairaba, the Director of RISD. She made the remarks during the opening of a training of trainers the organization will be sending out into the ten districts to build capacity of Abunzi so that they can better handle the said cases. Abunzi are elected from their respective communities and trained in legal matters so that they can handle minor legal cases to avoid or reduce minor cases being taken to courts of law. They operate under the Ministry of Justice. Kairaba said that the 60,000 cases were registered at the very time when the land registration exercise was at its peak.. Kairaba said that the survey indicated that some resort to courts when they feel decisions taken by Abunzi committees do not favour them and that the lack of records to prove this has seen many cases taking long in courts. The initiative is part of the three year programme funded by the Dutch government through the Netherland’s Embassy. This programme is being conducted in collaboration with CLADHO- an umbrella of eight local Human Rights organizations. Speaking during the event, Anastase Balinda, the National Coordinator of Abunzi Secretariat, noted that RISD`s initiative will complement government efforts in making the mediators competent.