As Rwanda grows, families must be able to move forward too. Reading The New Times article, "What to know about upcoming industrial zones in Kigali," published on 26 October 2026, i welcomed the opportunities these developments could bring. But i also wondered about the families whose homes and livelihoods stand on the land earmarked for industry. The report says Gitaraga Light Industrial Zone involves at least 1,200 property owners. It also describes two years of uncertainty during which residents could not renovate their homes or use their land productively. Imagine postponing essential repairs while waiting for a decision that will determine your family’s future. In a growing country like Rwanda, relocation will remain necessary. What matters is how we plan it, how we involve people and whether they can rebuild their lives afterwards. We have faced difficulties before. On 25 September 2020, The New Times reported that Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee had cautioned Kigali City against expropriating residents before compensation. More than Rwf3.4 billion was owed to people affected by road construction, with payment delays reaching 1,140 days. City officials cited cash-flow challenges. The Auditor General’s report for the year ended June 2023 subsequently recorded Rwf12.68 billion in unpaid compensation across ten public institutions. Some payments were approximately seven years beyond the statutory deadline. These historical findings should guide how we prepare future projects. The law provides clear protection. Article 3 of Law Nº 32/2015 of 11 June 2015 relating to expropriation in the public interest requires "prior and fair compensation." Article 28 provides for valuation using prevailing market prices and an additional 5% for disruption. Article 35 requires payment before relocation, while Article 36 generally requires payment within 120 days of approval. If unpaid within that period, expropriation becomes null and void unless otherwise agreed. Yet a family experiences compensation through practical questions; Can we afford another home? Will our children remain in school? Can we still reach our workplace or customers? Delayed payment can make yesterday’s valuation inadequate for tomorrow’s housing costs. Concerns about land later being sold to investors in the economic zone at substantially higher prices also deserve transparent answers. Any claimed 200% difference needs verification. Servicing costs may explain part of an increase, but citizens deserve to understand the figures and whether their original compensation was fair. Gitaraga reportedly allows direct negotiations between owners and investors. Such sales must be distinguished from compulsory expropriation, with residents receiving independent advice before agreeing to terms. Has a resettlement plan been prepared and funded? Have landowners helped shape it? Have all concerned institutions agreed on responsibilities? Have civil society organisations been involved to explain rights, support negotiations and assist vulnerable households? Has an environmental protection plan been adopted? These questions deserve answers before families move. Planning should cover housing, livelihoods, essential services, complaints and follow-up after relocation. People should be able to welcome development with confidence that their own future has been considered. A new industrial zone should create opportunities while giving those who make way for it a fair chance to move forward too. newtimes.co.rw/article/39978…

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