The Kigali Green City project has not been halted-Minister Mujawamariya
By DUSABEMUNGU Ange de la Victoire
Some residents of Kinyinya Hill where Green City Kigali will be built, as previously told, have started to speculate that the project will not take place with some of them citing the fact that there are new individual houses that are being constructed in the Green City’s demarcated area and that makes them think the project has been halted or shifted to somewhere else.
However, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya has, on Friday, 28th May 2021, told TOPAFRICANEWS reporter that the Kigali Green City project has not stopped adding that practical activities on the site are about to begin.
Minister Mujawamariya said “The Green City Kigali project has not stopped, and construction works are about to begin.”
“There were some technical problems but I think everything is now in the right direction, the detailed design has been done, today they are working on a master plan that will show how the city will look like.” She explains
“Green City Kigali project didn’t stop and there will be other Green Cities projects in other parts of the country.” Minister Mujawamariya emphasised while also mentioning that funding to kick-start construction activities is available.
Minister Mujawamariya made the comment on Kigali Green City during the Press briefing on the launch of Environment Week that will see a series of Environment protection activities preceding the celebration of World Environment Day and World Biodiversity Day on 5th June 2021.
According to previous information, the first phase of Kigali Green City will occupy 18 hectares of the plot formerly owned by Rwanda Social Security Board. In total, the whole project of Kigali Green City will occupy 600 hectares on Kinyinya Hill.
In the first phase, at least 1,749 housing units on 18 hectares will be constructed in the next five years at an estimated cost of $103.8million (Rwf97.7billion) out of the $1.5 billion needed in the whole first phase.
It is expected that 10% of the houses in Kigali Green City will be distributed free of charge to families ranked in category 1 and 2 of Ubudehe. (Category 1: Families who do not own a house and can hardly afford basic needs. Category 2: Those who have a dwelling of their own or are able to rent one but rarely get full time jobs.)
The families will be identified in close collaboration with local authorities.
10% of the housing also is meant for rich people while 80% of the housing is meant for whoever wants to live in that city and is able to pay for the house on his/her own.
Also note that the total project (all phases) will benefit 150,000 people. 16,000 jobs will be created and mostly given to local communities and the total 30,000 houses will be constructed in that Green city.
None will be relocated in the city as it is planned to be an inclusive green city.
The sustainable urbanisation project is being implemented by the Rwanda Green fund with German state-owned development bank, KfW and the World’s largest Green Climate Fund.