Gasabo District called in Court for Bannyahe trial

Gasabo High Court has called upon Gasabo District for pre-trial discussions, after the appeal of residents leaving in Kangondo I and II and Kibiraro Villages, usually known as ‘Bannyahe’, lamenting not to put up with expropriation method endorsed prior to being moved to another place.

Last year, Bannyahe residents appealed to Kigali City proving not to be happy with district’s decision to expropriate their properties compensating only houses, currently being built in Busanza, Kicukiro District.

Since then, 400 residents’ lawyer sued the district in a trial that was set to take place on 7^th November 2018.

This kind of discussion used before the trial’s date, brings together appellants’ representatives and the district. According to the court, it’s geared towards reaching the common understanding before the trial goes on.

In their brief, Bannyahe residents say they want only monetary compensation and allegedly accuse the district and investor of forcefully taking their properties and try to compensate their only houses.

They also asked for 100 million additional monetary compensations for the time spent  in courts and fees paid to lawyers.

In April this year, some of these residents met  the Minister of Local Governance, Francis Kaboneka, and the latter proved their expropriation claims baseless and affirmed that te move should continue.

“We’re building the city in a modern way and as officials, we are supposed to abide by laws and government’s planning. We can’t  get a sustainable development if  we live like that. We cannot relocate people in high risk zones and then cause other risks,” added the Minister.

He also pinpointed that they ought not to oppose the government and that the decision has to be applied the way it is.

At the end of that meeting, residents expressed their disagreement with the officials from the Ministry and the Kigali city.

Afterwards the Bannyahe residents opted to bring the issue to the court.

Dieudonne MANIRAKIZA

UM– USEKE.RW