Jean Paul Habiyaremye, 35, resident of Rukereza Village, Kigombe Cell, Muhoza Sector in Musanze District, accuses village chief (mudugudu), FĂ©licitĂ© Nyirambarushimana, of denying him access to paper that was supposed to provide him with a free lawyer from MAJ (government lawyers provided for poor people) in a trial against son’s death suspect. Habiyaremye alleges son, Isubirizigihe Fabrice, 10, passed away in November last year following beatings from neighbor, Izabayo, who since then is on the run. He tried his best to get a lawyer in vain. ” The whole village knows my story. When my son died, I went to look for a lawyer but I could not manage to pay one million Rwf as a cost. The alternative was to seek help from MAJ. They requested me to bring a paper from local authorities confirming that I was too poor to pay for a lawyer. The first paper she (village chief) gave me was wrong and MAJ officer in Musanze told me to bring another one. Nyirambarushimana denied giving it to me citing she is busy. I always went there but she kept telling me to come following day” Say sad Habiyaremye ” Actually, she did not want to write down my paper. She sent me to security in charge in my area. The result was that the paper was wrong. My effort to get right one was futile till now. I gave up two months ago. She kept telling me to come another day citing being busy with other duties.” He adds On reason why he was denied the paper, Habiyaremye claims ” The follow up of my case got stuck at village chief level. I don’t know the reason for such uncaring behavior towards me. She is the one who knows.” Abandoned by local authorities Habiyaremye told this newspaper, local authorities abandoned him to deal with the case of fallen son alone while they promised a support during burial. ” Local leaders were around when I buried my son and they promised I will get their support. However, none of them have ever paid me a visit or even do a follow up of my case. They should have intervened in confiscating suspect assets since he is wanted. As of now, he managed to sell his house, I am informed his wife went away joining him in DRC.” Habiyaremye recalls ” I cannot imagine the reason why Nyirambarushimana does want my son to get justice he deserves. Is it a big deal to write a paper to the citizens you have to serve? I think there is a conspiracy theory behind what is happening. It is like she does not want the suspect to be tried even in absentia. Another case is how I was given empty promises. I know well that village chief talked to the suspect when he was beating my son citing he caught a thief, she did not even communicate to other level of authority during the incident. There is something fishy about her.” Wonders Habiyaremye Loss of hope for justice of the fallen son Habiyaremye told BWIZA that the hope that justice will be served for his fallen son is fading away owing to the situation on the ground. ” I do not think that justice will be served in my son’s death. The suspect ran away, living freely and even authorities are not willing to support my cause. If I was given the paper on time, I would have got a lawyer to represent me in court of law but now look at poor me!” He told this newspaper. ” My son was killed in abroad daylight. To my surprise, none is tried and wonder if authorities work for people. It has been a long time waiting for justice for fallen son yet I feel loneliness in this fight. Those supposed to help are obstructing justice. I deserve the paper to get a free lawyer.” Habiyaremye claims son’ death left the whole family traumatized, living in fear. He suggests that local authorities beyond village chief to intervene so as to save him from facing what he terms ” injustice.” Habiyaremye told this newspaper that he is worried though the case would go on and suspect found responsible, he will not get compensation for properties of the suspect were secretly sold. Jean Paul Habiyaremye/BWIZA Rukereza Village Chief, Nyirambarushimana FĂ©licitĂ©, via phone interview, denied all the allegations. ” Habiyaremye is telling youu lies. We did not deny him that paper. He came to us, we gave him the first one which was later found to be wrong. For the second one, we have been looking for him for the service but he is nowhere to be found. We supported him during his son’s death and burial, why would I declined to give him a paper? If he is around, let him come and we will give him service. We do not have a problem about that issue.” One of the residents who preferred to speak to this newspaper on condition of anonymity said ” You cannot easily get a service in Rukereza especially poor people. They despise them. Are you telling me that village chief failed to write down such a paper?” He asked. It has become a routine for some local officials in Rwanda to delay service delivery to citizens. Most cases, it is due to negligence of duties, looking for corruption in exchange of the services. Transparency International Rwanda has recently classified local authorities among top entities in terms of corruption.
