{{RDB\u2019s environmental specialists at Nyungwe National Park are in fear of environmental and natural resource destruction with in the park that may be a result from the ongoing process of a 32km road rehabilitation from Pindura, a junction at the main road within the park connecting to Bweyeye Sector at the Burundi boarder. It is meant to be widened up to 7 meters.}}<\/p>\n
The road construction had been put to halt for almost two years due to misunderstandings between road contactors under the supervision by MININFRA and the park\u2019s management authority that is under Rwanda Development Board.<\/p>\n
Speaking to igihe.com at Bweyeye Sector, Patrice Nzamuye who is in charge of Nyungwe NP protection and Law Enforcement Warden noted; \u201cAs you can see yourself, there will be a lot of negative consequences affecting natural resources. For example the falling debris and degradation will contaminate the river tributaries; there will be cutting down of trees, querying murram within the park among others which is really against the law of conserving environment.\u201d <\/p>\n
He says that he is not opposing the road rehabilitation that will be helpful to many people living in the area. Instead there should be a clear study and also collaboration between the two parties so that the eco-system in the park is not much affected.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the only biggest natural forest that has high mountains in the whole of Africa and thus careful construction and study on the project\u2019s impact onto the park ecosystem be made. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ministry of Infrastructure should cooperate with environmentalists and formulate possible ways of rehabilitating this road as expected. We even direct them to other areas outside the park where murram can be got in case they approach us,\u201d Nzamuye said.<\/p>\n
Fidele Ruziganderwe who does Monitoring and Evaluation at the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Society said; \u201cThe National Park is so important not only to our country but also the whole world in terms of preserving ecosystem, promoting tourism sector among others and incase of continued destruction, there will be a big loss to our country and the world in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to him; 70% of the Rwanda\u2019s natural water has its source at Nyungwe NP and also that if contaminated, it will pose a big risk.<\/p>\n
Juvenal Harerimana a resident of Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district urged; \u201cgovernment should help us and make this road finished because the transport here is a big challenge to all of us as the residents of this area.\u201d
\n\u201cTwo heads are better than one, so let leaders from the two parties heed to our plea so that the problem can get rectified because both the road and the NP are all important to us,\u201d Harerimana added.<\/p>\n
For a person to walk from Pindura to Bweyeye it takes over 7hrs, riding bicycles takes approximately 3hrs and hiring a motorcycle costs Rwf7000, while one using a car, the 32kms takes almost 2hrs drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur produces are not accessed to the market just because of this ditched road and sometimes, one to go to Cyangugu has to pass through Burindi and then connect there, which is also difficult to those people that do not have boarder pass permits,\u201d Jean Pierre Twagirayezu told igihe.com.<\/p>\n
Bweyeye Sector officials attribute that, as the Minister of Natural Resources Stanislas Kamanzi had confirmed earlier; the road construction should be done and materials like murram should be got from the national park.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize the importance of the two and are all necessary but then after the road construction, there can be rehabilitation on the destroyed resources like replanting of trees by both the road contractors and also village citizens, through communal work and we can make it happen. Like the Minister said, all materials should be got from the park,\u201d Joseph Rusaya, the Executive Secretary Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district.<\/p>\n
What does the top brass officials from two parties attribute towards the saga?
\nRose Mukankomeje, the Director General REMA comments; \u201cWe are not against Rwanda\u2019s development but we also have to protect natural resources and ensure the sustainable management. Its over 60% of the rain we receive in Rwanda that come from Nyungwe and that\u2019s why we have to manage it carefully as Rwanda\u2019s heart.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the meeting with MININFRA, we had agreed to go to this area together and find well established sites where to get murram and after they were supposed to show environmental management plan to us but when the team went there, MININFRA\u2019s technical team did not come into agreement with us just because they don\u2019t want to comply with us,\u201d Mukankomeje added.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us we don\u2019t want conflicts with MININFRA because the road is also for our people but we need a well defined policy over the project with a clear document presented,\u201d she pointed out.<\/p>\n
MININFRA\u2019s Minister of State in charge of Transport noted; \u201cFor us we followed procedures as were required and we even came into agreement that materials for the road project should come from within the park. In charge people for environment should conduct training to the road contractors upon the environment policy instead of stopping the road construction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to the MINIRENA\u2019s Minister is still futile but we shall keep you updated upon the issue.<\/p>\n
What does the law say about the issue?
\nAccording to the organic law n. 04\/2005 of 08\/04\/2005 that determines the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda; article no. 29 says that no competent authority, in accordance with the existing laws, can issue permission for the construction in cases where such constructions may degregade the environment<\/p>\n
Article 31 says; every government project or private individual activities can not be permitted to operate if they are contrary to their plan and shall aim at considering the strategies of conservation of environment as provided by the law.
\nTo be continued\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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