{The Bugesera District Advisory Committee has confirmed that 20 hectares of land will be given to residents of Mazane and Sharifa Island expected to be relocated to Batima cell, Rweru sector not later than February 2016.}
The decision to relocate Mazane and Sharifa residents from the islands follows an assessment that established lack of enough infrastructures for the overpopulated isles. Even though they were glad and accepted their relocation, they have been expressing worries of how they would survive in case they get houses without land for either tilling or rearing at least a few domestic animals.
“It is good that accommodation has been provided; but we cannot keep buying food and other commodities our entire lives. It is therefore reasonable that some land for small scale farming has been secured,” said one of residents of the isles.
The district advisory committee chairman, Kabera Pierre Claver, has said the relocated residents shall be paying for the secured land in installments.
“The 20 hectares will not be paid for at once; it will be done in different installments. We have planned Rwf 80 million in the budget, an amount and land size that will be increased as heads of cattle increase,” said Pierre Claver.
It is expected that 64 of 400 families will be relocated from the islands to Batima cell of Rweru sector in February 2016. Each of the 64 families will receive a house worth Rwf 7 million with three bed rooms, one sitting room and a kitchen. Each compound shall have a cows’ shade.
Leave a Reply