MUHANGA - District officials and residents of Muhanga sector have pledged to support Cesaria Mukangoga, a Genocide widow, whose banana plantation was destroyed by local authorities last week.

The pledge comes days after the woman complained that her plantation was unfairly destroyed by Mark Munyemana, the sector agronomist.

Mayor, Yvonne Mutakwasuku, said, "The district will financially support the affected widow and neighbours have been asked to join efforts to prepare the widow’s land to replace the destroyed bananas with beans.”

The Mayor also criticised local leaders for poorly enforcing the banana cutting programme, and indiscriminately destroying the plantations without prior consultations with residents.

Meanwhile, the Mayor revealed that the two men who were involved in the destruction of Mukangoga’s plantation, have been arrested for uttering Genocide ideology statements.

Talking to The New Times, Mukangoga, 65, welcomed the intervention of the district authorities and residents, saying it has restored her hope.

Residents also agreed to start cutting down their banana plantations deemed unproductive without waiting for local leaders.

The decision to cut down banana plantations was announced early this month, in order to pave way for the land and crop consolidation policy.

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