Report faults districts on abetting land conflicts against Genocide survivors

Districts have been faulted for poor implementation of the land sharing policy initiated in 1996, leading to endless land wrangles involving Genocide survivors. This is according to the Special Justice Taskforce instituted by Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, this year, to analyse injustice faced by Genocide survivors. The nine-member committee, comprised officials from various public institutions, was chaired by Deputy Ombudsman Bernadette Kanzayire. It was set up to analyse injustice faced by Genocide survivors in relation to regaining their property. The report, a copy of which The New Times has seen, says while executing the land sharing policy it was found out that land sharing was implemented differently in all districts. “Some local authorities never implemented land sharing policy as required. They never put into consideration reserving land for child survivors of the Genocide,” the report says. It also indicates that basing on the policy of land use for community settlements “imidugudu”, some local authorities allocated land belonging to Genocide survivors who either didn’t return home or were still minors to other people without providing compensation to the owners. The report details land cases which have been handled in the various districts of the country. Within a three month period starting January 11, it identified 1202 cases involving Genocide survivors’ property countrywide. Ignorance of issue More than 300 were resolved, while an estimated 800 issues are still pending and were recommended to the local authorities. By the time land sharing policy was implemented, the population was not informed about the compensation they were required to provide consequently the value of that compensation today is higher, it said. It was an obligation for all the beneficiaries of imidugudu policy to compensate land owners. But people occupying land in settlements reportedly refused to remit compensation arguing that it was public land. According to the report, there are cases where local authorities put public infrastructure on the land without providing fair compensation to the Genocide survivors. The report adds that many Genocide survivors are still seeking justice to regain their properties occupied by illegitimately. It cites a case of seven orphaned children of late Nyirumuringa in Kicukiro district among the many cases of land grabbing. Family forced out One of the children, who talked to this paper on condition of anonymity for fear of witch-hunt by the tenants on their land, their three-hectare piece of land in Nyakabanda Cell, Niboye Sector, was grabbed by 30 families who have since kept the plots of land, developed houses and used some part for animal husbandry. The land grabbers allegedly include one of a prominent leader in the Kicukiro District. A source said the affected family was forced to vacate this land in February 1994. The family settled in Kabeza, also in Kicukiro. “The land belongs to Nyirumuringa family and their ancestors. I am a witness,” Mohamed Rwakazayire, the then leader of Nyakabanda Cell, whose family is just adjacent to the claimed land, said. He said the land was divided up by city authorities to people who were relocating from other person’s houses. Rwakazayire said it was in 1997 when around 30 people formed an association dubbed “Twiyubakire” and reclaimed the land for residential purposes and the Nyirumuringa family tried to halt it in vain. “We tried to convince the meeting, which was called by local leaders, that the land belonged to us. When we realised no one was sympathising with us, we preferred to keep quiet,” said one of the children. The task force recommended to the district commission to resolve the problem, but Nyirumuringa family says, the occupants gave this commission mislreating information since none of them acknowledged that they owe the family property. Kanyarwanda and Ibuka, associations that promote the interests of Genocide survivors, have started assessment of the property issues for further advocacy. Theoneste Murangira, the president of Kanyarwanda, said the associations are preparing different recommendations to submit to the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Local Government and Office of the Ombudsman.

National

Report faults districts on abetting land conflicts against Genocide survivors