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Rwanda: Mayor Halts Church Demolition
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The New Times (Kigali)
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Alphonse Rutazigwa
Kigali
An order to demolish a church belonging to Assemblee de Dieu Church came to naught when the Mayor of Gasabo District, Claudine Nyinawagaga, came to its rescue and halted its demolition.
This occurred yesterday at Kimihurura cell, Kimihurura Sector when a caterpillar and the demolition team arrived to carry out the orders.
The church is allegedly being built in a wetland, which makes it incompatible with the standards set by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
When the caterpillar arrived at the church, its (church) leaders objected to the demolition, providing documents authorising its construction.
This prompted the demolition team to call Nyinawagaga for back up.
On arrival, the Mayor found the church authorities with the relevant documents, prompting her to lift the order.
According to Pastor John Gatabazi, the church's legal representative, the church got permission three years ago.
Speaking to journalists who had been attracted by the fracas, Nyinawagaga emphasized the necessity of protecting the environment and upholding human safety.
She said that it's in this vein that buildings that are less than six metres away from the main road are to be demolished.
According to Nyinawagaga, construction is to be halted in the meantime.
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Gatabazi remains adamant saying that the church authorities gave the Mayor copies of the legal documents which give the church ownership and subsequently the rights to erect the synagogue.
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