Kigali City’s Consultative Council has decided to take matters in its own hands to find a solution to a thorny issue that has been bedeviling the city for some time.

It could be argued that Kigali City’s ambitious developing plans have put a heavy burden in its coffers, but that is just one side of the coin.

Some local investors behind the Kigali City Park project that was nipped in the bud in favour of more important projects, have been chasing city authorities for compensation but to no avail, now the banks are breathing down the investors’ necks.

But the more the city delays in finding a solution to the row, the more bank interests are shooting up and the more the city will have to cough up for the investors to get fair compensation.

Only last week, Gasabo District was threatened with court action by a group of civil servants who bought land from the district which they never received.

They are also seeking compensation with interests because many had financed the acquisitions through banks.

The delay to find a speedy solution in both cases is causing the local authorities dearly, both financially and the trust of their electorate.

The culprit here is procrastination.
It is undeniable that the pressures on the local authorities to deliver on their promises are heavy, but the price of beautifying the city should not come at the cost of heaping suffering on its citizens.

Good planning, speedy implementation of policies and decisions would save city authorities many a sleepless nights and francs, and it is never too late to begin on a new footing.

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