Gishwati residents asked to respect eviction order

NYABIHU — The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi, has urged residents living in Gishwati, to respect the October 15 deadline which was set for them to be resettled. He made the remarks on Saturday during the monthly community work Umuganda that was carried out in Kijote cell, Bigogwe. According to Kamanzi, the evictees will be resettled at kijote. “The only available option is to relocate and be collectively resettled at the new site where you will have access to all facilities that you need. So, we urge you to cooperate to facilitate faster resettlement as heavy rains have just started,” Kamanzi said. Speaking to The New Times, the Executive Secretary of Bigogwe Sector, Felecien Rurangwa Manzi, said that 293 residents are set to be resettled. He however, said many of them are against the eviction, fearing they will not get alternative farm lands. “These residents are afraid that they might lose their lands without being compensated but that is false …as they will be given other farm lands,” Rurangwa said. In a separate interview, Kamanzi, who is also the overseer of Nyabihu district activities, said that residents with land will be given title deeds. “The title deeds to be issued to those being resettled will help the beneficiary residents to access bank loans when necessary to develop their land holdings,” he said. Ends