Roundup: Anger in Kigali as city directive orders businesses out of residential houses

There was an angry reaction in Kigali to reports that the city authorities were ordering businesses and non-profit organizations operating in residential houses to relocate to commercial buildings.

Parfait Busabizwa, the City of Kigali vice mayor in charge of economic development confirmed on Thursday that businesses have been given up to March 2017 to relocate or risk closure.

This is the latest decision by city authorities to generate controversy, following the demarcation of car free zone, and ban on billboards last year.

In December 2016 city advertisers were given two weeks to bring down billboards and other outdoor advertisements that were said not to be compliant with gazetted standards and by laws of outdoor advertising.

Authorities said then that some of the billboards posed a risk to passersby in the event of rains because they were installed wrongly while some spent ages without maintenance and repairs.

About 80 billboards and outdoor advertisements were expected to be affected in the process.

"Honestly, I support this effort but planning and engagement of all stakeholders by the mayor, once again, didn't happen. CoK [City of Kigali] takes decisions in its sleep and wakes up with orders. This shining city will fade away if businesses don't feel their interests are protected," one resident said of the latest directive.

But Busabizwa said the move was in line with city master plan and in part aimed to promote efficient, secure, hygienic working environment.

"We realized that some buildings which were built for a family of six members accommodate businesses, there is not enough space, no security, no hygiene and this means they can hardly offer quality services," Busabizwa said.

However, the angry resident sounded more frustrated: "We don't know what to invest in and feel secure. But why now? And why three months to move? Why weren't we informed ... Why suffer because of investments by real estate agents. Don't we get a say?"

Another angry resident said, "These rules are designed specifically to enrich certain individuals and companies, not to go in line with the master plan."

The move comes amid concerns that investors in real estate report low occupancy rate in the different modern commercial complexes for both business and office purposes in Kigali, as cheaper residential buildings are preferred.

Busabizwa stressed that the city was not pushing for particular commercial buildings.

The rental fee should be at least 15 U.S dollars per square meter in commercial buildings in the city, according to authorities.

About 1,000 businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating from residential premises will be affected by the new directive. Endit