4.6 Impact of new
housing policies on unplanned settlement dwellers
4.6.1 Positive impacts
Housing development in Kigali city according to the master
plan will greatly change its image and the living conditions of its citizens.
The implementation will lead to the dissolution of slums and upgrading of
informal settlements. Poorly developed prime land will be redeveloped to
maximize investments hence economic growth. Also land use zoning will allow
maximum and efficient use of land while giving Kigali city an aesthetic
physical structure.
According to the surveyed residents in Amahoro cell, they
expect improved lifestyle as a result of new housing development. Some of them
said that when expropriated they will buy land and practice agriculture which
will help to improve their living conditions. Others said that expropriation of
their properties for new housing development will help them buy new houses of
their choice.
Kigali city officials emphasized the accommodation of a fast
growing population of Kigali that will result from the development of
apartments and zoning specific areas for residential use, industrial or
commercial uses. According to the personnel in charge of social affairs in
Muhima sector, the construction of apartments will shelter many families on a
small surface area than it is for detached houses. One of the officials in
Rwanda housing authority in urban planning unit said that planned housing
development will ease the provision of infrastructures such as roads, water
supply, electricity connections and development of the green spaces. He further
added that planned settlements will lead to better land management and
efficient waste evacuation systems.
4.6.2 Negative impacts
On the side of the Kigali city council, the implementation of
the new housing development as stipulated in the master plan is a fruitful
result. However, on the side of informal settlement dwellers especially those
on prime land that is targeted for redevelopment are worrisome because they are
susceptible to relocation. To these residents, resettlement will affect their
livelihood because they will be taken far from the city centre where they can
earn a living through casual labor and where they easily get to their work.
Asked on what they think would be the negative impacts on
their livelihoods if expropriated, surveyed households in Amahoro cell revealed
that they are worried about the expropriation prices. 48% of the respondents
said that they will not be able to reintegrate themselves in the new area once
they are under-expropriated. They further added that buying a new plot and
erecting a new house is expensive.
The rest of the respondents gave the following as negative
impacts once expropriated: they said `we would be relocated to an area far from
the city centre which may increase transport costs since our jobs are in the
city centre'. Others said that `we initiated long term projects; these may be
affected negatively once we are relocated to a different place'. However, most
of them showed reluctance in their mind towards relocation saying that it is
not easy to admit to shift without knowing where to go, and that separating
with friends is not easily welcomed.
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