GICUMBI - A group of people formerly working for Gicumbi District and were retrenched in September, have threatened to seek legal redress following the district’s failure to pay them their terminal benefits.

The employees, who include seven District employees, 25 Cell Executive Secretaries and one from Mukarange Sector, were laid off by the District Advisory Council in a restructuring exercise.

Speaking to The New Times, the disgruntled former civil servants complained of the district’s reluctance to pay them their dues even after they handed over their respective offices.

"It seems district authorities are determined not to pay us because the year is getting to an end and we have not received our terminal benefits,” said Thaddee Kibamba, who formerly worked at the district.

Another former Cell Executive Secretary, Jean Bosco Hitimana, said that some of his colleagues were allowed to continue working despite having appeared on the list of those to be retrenched. 

Celestin Kurujyibwami, another former employee at the district, said that a number of former employees have already employed the services of a lawyer to work on an imminent lawsuit against the district.

"Most of us had acquired bank loans during our time of active service. The banks are now threatening to auction our property because of not servicing the loans. We need legal redress to have our terminal benefits paid,” said Kurujyibwami.

Gicumbi District Mayor Bonane Nyangezi was not readily available for comment by press time as it was said that he was in a four-day retreat with all district heads of departments.

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