Although anti-Nyakatsi-a campaign to eradicate grass thatched housing in the country has brought mass diginity, it is a different story for the family of Chrysostom Ntezimana.
During the anti-Nyakatsi campaign, Ntezimana of 50years migrated from his home where he had been living with his wife Peragia Ntakobatagira 28. They settled at a new place located close to the Rusumo Border in the Eastern Province.
They established a grass thatched house at their new found land at the banks of river Akagera. The piece of land is so steep such that chances are so high that the Ntezimana’s could easily slip off and drown into the river.
However, worse still, the Ntezimana’s have an immediate but dangerous neighbour.The Python. Just five meters away from their grass house. The Ntezimana’s could easily be mauled by the mega python or slip drown into the speedy deep Akagera river waters.
IGIHE.com reporter who feared to reach inside the Ntezimana’s grass house, managed to meet the wife Ntakobatagira.
She narrated to our reporter, “I asked my husband to shift from this risky area but he has insisted not to leave. Instead he says he would rather drown me into this river first and then escape if he no longer wants me.”
The couple has no children yet and sources say that the Ntezimana adopted Ntakobatagira from another man in Ruhengeri in Northern Rwanda.
When asked about the risk of living close to a python den, Ntakobatagira said that they are always careful. That they make sure the python doesn’t see them first but them seeing it first and running away. This has been the situation for the past two years.
Ntakobatagira adds that she is tired of risking her life staying with the snake and being harassed by her husband.
Efforts to speak to Ntezimana were futile. Also the Executive Secretary of sector in the area could not be reached by press time.
However, IGIHE.com learnt that Ntezimana has ignored invitations by area local authorities to pick iron sheets for roofing on new descent house.
One local official said,“no one can risk going there because not only fearing the snake but also the place itself is fearful.”
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