Farmers calls for help as heavy downpour ruins crops #rwanda

A heavy downpour in Rwamagana District on Wednesday
destroyed close to 10 hectares of banana plantation and
several houses, leaving several residents homeless.
Some of the destroyed houses, according to local leaders,
include those that had been constructed for vulnerable
residents. Rubona and Munyaga sectors were the worst
affected.
Jean Pierre Uwiragiye, one of the affected residents, said
they were in urgent need of help.
"The storm destroyed most of the houses in the village. We
need help as some of us are too poor to rehabilitate our
houses," he said.
Emmanuel Habumugisha, a cell leader, said residents
whose houses were destroyed had found shelter at friends
or relatives. He said similar destruction (in the area)
happened last year.
"Most of those affected are housed by their friends. We are,
however, planning for special community work (Umuganda)
to build houses for the most vulnerable among them," he
said.
Nehemie Uwimana, the district mayor, said the houses
collapsed largely because of poor construction.
"There are people who have refused to adhere to
construction standards. As a result the roofs of their houses
are easily ripped off and they expect to get free ones later,"
he said.
"In such situations, some people try to gain sympathy they
don't deserve. Some of the affected families have the
capacity to rehabilitate their houses, let them do it... we are
busy re-housing 'Tanzania evictees'," he categorically said.
Meanwhile, area markets in the district were flooded with
bananas sold at give away prices, after a heavy wind
flattened several plantations.
"It is a blessing in disguise. The price of bananas
drastically fell from Rwf5000 to Rwf2000 since Monday. But
this is temporary as prices may shoot extremely high in the
near future," said Bienvene Kayibanda, a resident.