Residents of Kimicanga suburb are angry at their eviction with only two days remaining to have the area secured. Locals are literally collecting their belongings including; bricks and roofing materials from structures they have always known as home.
The residents who have resided in the affected houses are outraged at the manner in which local officials as well as landlords have begun demolishing the houses while residents are still inside.
The area comprised of restaurants, shops homes and all sorts of livelihood facets. The emotional attachment to the place seems strong at the moment but the decision has already been made.
Some residents who have been renting in the suburb have been left stranded as their landlords have literally begun taking down the houses.
Peter Shimimana a resident of Kimicanga has been renting in the area says he is troubled to find a place to go in just two days.
“I have nowhere to go, this house only cost me 40,000rwf.other places are too expensive. I don’t know where to find money in just two days.”
By last night demolition was ongoing in the area while residents were still occupying the houses. The House proprietors have begun removing bricks, windows, and all valuable items.
Several residents claim they are now homeless while others will return to their villages.
Agnes karuranga a widow,owned houses at Kimicanga with her five children, and grandchildren all in the same house. She has lived at Kinamba for over 35 years; her family depended on money from the houses that she had rented out for several years.
Karuranga told IGIHE.com that the money the government has given her as compensation for her houses is what she will use to build a new house. But She says the biggest problem is that her family has been deprived of a source of regular income.
Beatrice Isenga owner of a small resturant already demolished said this is the third time she is moving due to land expropriation and that everytime she moves it gets harder and harder for her to make her business work.she has no husband but only a schooling daughter.
“I have no idea whether my business will thrive again. I have to start afresh. Places like Kimicanga have been helpful to small businesses like mine because the clients are also low income earners”.
Local Officials and landlords have said that the people were given sufficient time and notice as stated by the law; last month was the official eviction announcement and all the people have been fairly compensated.
Those who have any official complaint should contact authorities at the national land center.
Leave a Reply