Bahoneza – Kinyarwanda, Rwanda Welfare, Social Welfare, Rwanda People, Nutrition and Diet, Rwanda Habitat, Living in Kigali

About 7800 families that reside on steep mountains on under the mountains and who are at the risk of being affected by natural disasters are to evacuate and to be settled in settlement villages.

According to Mr. Gideon Ruboneza the mayor of Ngororero district, this district has a great number of its inhabitants affected by this problem in all districts of Rwanda. The district has a plan of evacuating people living in dangerous places before rainy period so as to protect people and their properties form natural disasters.

Though leaders are ready to help evacuate these people, some people delay the process hoping that the government will build for them even when they are capable of doing so as Pascal Ntawuryiha a resident of Gatumba district said.

The district mayor said that this program has to be well respected because when people die, it is the government’s loss. He said that those who are capable of building for themselves will be followed and those who are cannot be supported and to settle them in villages as soon as possible.

In the last rainy season, houses, farms, animals, people’s properties were destroyed and even 4 people lost their lives and 36 people in all over Rwanda were killed by natural disasters and that is why solutions must be reached before to avoid the occurrence of other tragedies.

Rwandans from the Twa community in Busanze sector- Nyaruguru District say they are poor because government development programs like agricultural development are not well communicated in their place.

On the issue that Girinka program as one of agricultural programmes in the country has not yet benefited the Twa, Fabien Niyitegeka, vice mayor for economic affairs in the District remarks that government programs do not discriminate but meant for all vulnerable residents of Rwanda.

Niyitegeka adds that Twa community are being prepared and trained to handle other better projects for their environment like piggery and chicken farming.

Nyaruguru district authorities say they are organizing projects that will promote social development among the Twa.

Some residents of Gatunda in Busanze sector reveal they depend on pottery which is not earning much in this generation.

Asiteriya Mukankusi explains pottery is heredity and they cannot quit doing it without another activity to give them small money for home use.

Mukankusi adds: “We are very poor and in need to develop but pot making can never get us anywhere. If we get land for cultivation and animal keeping, we can be better.”

Nyaruguru vice mayor stresses that most of the problems Twa people have are based on negative attitude. Its in that order that a health worker will be assigned to care for their social affairs and to help change their mindset.

Members of the forum for the blind (Rwanda Union of The Blind) have received cattle from Ngoma District Vice Mayor for social affairs following testimonies that not being understood spoils their opportunities to participate in government programs.

The assistance should be delivered through local authorities, according to the meeting of 24^th.July.2012 in Ngoma district when the forum for the blind met district leaders including sectors’ executive secretaries and the workers of Ngoma district.

As the representatives of this forum explained, they never participated in popular programs like Girinka Munyarwanda because local leaders never considered them saying that they cannot care of cows because they are blind and some who were given cows were taken away again saying they are not capable of rearing cows.

It was shown that blind people can do everything like studying, farming, and work and this was confirmed by the testimonies that were given by blind people who have university education and many people were surprised including Providence Kirenga the vice mayor for social affairs in Ngoma district who said that he never thought a blind person can rear and take care of cattle.

As a sign that he understood that the blind people can do everything including animal husbandry, Providence Kirenga accepted to give goats to each member of the blind association that is newly started in Zaza and Karembo sectors before the end of 2012.

Jacques Mugisha, who is doing his dissertation in the National University of Rwanda in journalism, is blind and gave a discussion about the step the association of the blind Ubumwe and the blind have taken like studying and doing other kind of works. He said that the only thing they are not capable of seeing but they can do everything else.

“We go to school and perform well and some of us studied animal husbandry and we spend 6 months in Masaka center being trained about doing different chores like ironing, making beds and rearing cattle.” Jacques Mugisha explained.

Another blind fellow called William gave a discussion about how the blind participate in competitions like football, other sports and other forms of entertainment. He said that in the limitations they usually meet with is lack of understanding in people which makes them be abused in many things and their rights not being fulfilled like other Rwandans.

The blind people in Rwanda has a forum called Rwanda Union of The Blind (RUB) and they have already achieved many things including advocating for people living with disabilities and caring about the blind by visiting their associations and those in schools.

The first blind person in Rwanda went to the university in 2008.

While the modern market awaits completion, street hawkers have been given a temporary market in Rwabayanga to quit Butare town streets.

Although they pay no taxes for this market place, hawkers still run to work on streets saying they make no sales in the market.

Apart from a few shoe and clothing sellers, others went back to street a few days after building stalls.

Olive Musabyimana, fruits hawker in Butare town narrates: “We come to the market in the morning but when we fail to make sales by afternoon, we risk losing our stock to local defence officials and go to the streets again.”

Similarly, Clementine Mukamana who sells clothing says: “I spend the day in the market because I have a little baby, but if I don’t go to town and sell something, my family can starve.”

Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs in Huye district Christine, Niwemugeni affirms that if street hawkers settle in one market place, people would know them and start looking for them in that market and buy their goods.

She adds that the reason people do not go to that market is because hawkers are never there full time.

Vice mayor reveals that local defence will always be asked to force street hawkers to operate in places where they say clients don’t find them.

According to Gatsibo District Administration presentation on Nyagatare community Radio for problem solving; local leaders have complained saying they need cows be given to them even since they do a lot of work without payment.

One of the local people who called on the radio said that district leaders should think about local leaders by involving them in Girinka program because these people work hard so that good governance is attained in the district.

Ambroise Ruboneza the district mayor in the company of Isae Habarurema the vice mayor for finance and development said that they have already started giving cows to local leaders but the limitation is the number of cows given which is very small. Ambroise Ruboneza said that local leaders are about 600 including those who have already been given cows though this program has not reached everywhere in the district.

Gatsibo district in Girinka program had planned to give 1500 cows, 2150 pigs and 2890 goats to the poor so as to help develop them as it had been found out that Rwandans who have livestock i9ncrease their crop production and promote their social welfare and this will make this district be rid of poverty by 2014.

Christine Niwemugeni, vice mayor for social affairs in Huye district

Rwandan Leaders have been asked to be the first in adopting children from orphanages so that they grow up in homes, Christine Niwemugeni; vice mayor for social affairs in Huye district has said.

Vice mayor said this during the meeting on transferring children from orphanages to some families. The meeting gathered the concerned authorities in southern province.

Explaining on the reason for asking leaders to adopt children, vice mayor Niwemugeni lamented: “Recently here in Huye, we had six children that we wanted to give to some families. Two got them but after hard work, three of them were sent to Nyundo orphanage and another one is at Kabutare hospital.”

I think if leaders show a good example the rest would follow and receive children from orphanages because these children need families to raise them, adds Niwemugeni.

Giving the reasons as to why adoption is not easy, one participant said: “Am never home due to my demanding work, why do I bring a child I will never get time for when he or she comes in need of parental care?”

Another parent added: “I have one child and would love to bring home his playmate, but if I take one home it will require me to enroll him or her in the same school as my child, yet it is expensive.”

Although orphans count to 3000, the problem would be solved if leaders took up the idea because they are many as well, says Niwemugeni.

Karongi district Vice-Mayor Dativa Mukabalisa Simbi

Karongi district has promised support to survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis during the handover of households support by MTN Rwanda’s call center agents late last week.

Speaking to the survivors and MTN call center agents, Karongi Vice-Mayor in charge of social affairs said that the survivors’ housing problem is known by district officials and is being planned for.

The Vice Mayor promised that plans of re innovating and building news houses for the genocide survivors are under way citing example of Nyereri settlement for the survivors that was built by the district in Rubengera Sector Karongi district.

Most of Karongi genocide survivors’ houses were built in a very short period leaving their structural shaky as they were built primarily to solve the then housing problem of survivors.

Felicien Nsabimana a Guardian of Karongi Orphans thanked MTN-Rwanda for their support and explained the difficult life that Orphans go through pointing out housing as one of the bigger challenges.

The mayor of Rulindo district has strongly reminded the 1994 Survivors of genocide against Tutsi that have been given houses to work hard for their own property.

Justus Kangwagye said this recently as one of commemoration in Rulindo district saying that though there is a step taken by genocide survivors, they should not be left alone.

“A nice house is one that you will build for yourself and what is worth you, you need to find strength in yourself, you genocide survivor and develop yourself above the level you’re on” he said.

Today, at least every family of a genocide survivor in Rulindo district has a cow and a house but there is a lot that has not been achieved as Eric Rubayita the coordinator of IBUKA in Rulindo district explained.

“We are asking that the genocide survivors be given permanent documents for the houses that they were given. So that they can present them as collateral guarantee and get loans.”  He further commented.

An artistic impression of Kigali city in the coming years as part of a new development master plan

Has a city develop using initiatives that challenge our thinking? That is exactly what has happened to Kigali City. Its development agenda was featured at the Design Indaba 2012 Expo and conference in Cape Town, which took place from February 29-March 04, 2012.

Former mayor of Kigali city, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira (2006-2011), spoke on a panel at the Expo that also included former mayor of Bogota (Colombia), Enrique Peñalosa. Kacyira is now the UN under secretary for UN-HABITAT.

With a focus on international thought leadership, the Design Indaba Conference and Expo have become one of the world’s leading design events and hosts more than 40 speakers and 2 500 delegates. The world’s design minds converge in Cape Town annually for this event.

Kirabo spoke about how Kigali was transformed during her time as mayor. Under her leadership, Kigali became the first African city to win the UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award “in recognition of the high level of cleanliness, greenness, safety and the sustainable, affordable housing initiatives combined with pro-poor urban employment opportunities”. The award was in October 2008.

Her initiatives to improve Kigali were arguably as bold Bogota’s as they have defied reason, but eventually won over supporters and Kigalians. If you arrive there today, any plastic bags are confiscated at the airport before you can enter the city. The city is spotless.

The boulevards are lined by nicely trimmed trees and traffic flows smoothly, largely because of an army of motorcycle taxis and a thriving bus and taxi system. You are often within eyesight of an armed policeman which enhances citizen’s safety.

On every last Saturday mornings of every month, all citizens take part in Umuganda, a nationwide initiative in which neighbours come together to pick up litter, cut grass, trim trees, and even help build schools.

Through this, civic pride is instilled in the citizens of Kigali and the greatest benefit is that social barriers are crossed because all citizens take part, from taxi drivers to government officials; doctors to priests; and all the other diversifying aspects in the country.

President Paul Kagame has been the biggest backer of a perfect Kigali. The city now has a new master plan depicting how the city will be in 50 years. Contrary to the past decades when anybody chose where to build or live, the current development strategy requires that whatever is built is reflective of how that specific area will look like in several years to come.

In Kigali, real estate construction is the order of the day. After years of stagnation, some parts of the city look like a construction sites as magnificent skyscrapers continue to prop up the skyline.

The road network is another major develop. All roads have been either tarmac, stones or under construction.

Following complaints by residents living near by the recently constructed Muhanga-Ngororero-Mukamira road, Local leaders have offered them advice to relocate to village estates.

Inhabitants of the newly constructed road lament that trenched water spoils both their houses and crops thus they plead for government’s compensation.

Ngorerore Mayor Gedeon Ruboneza says that such citizens who are still living lonely in valleys should adhere to the government’s program of settling in village estates.

Tackling the Valley Residents’ pleads for compensation, the Mayor says; “the Chinese company that constructed the road did compensate all people whose property was affected, there is  no need to pay them twice therefore; instead we have to assist them shift to village settlements which  the government can offer.” Explains the district boss