Dr Abias Maniragaba, an Environmental Health expert, emphasized the urgent need to relocate the population from the island to safeguard both human lives and wildlife.
Dr. Maniragaba pointed out that residing on the remote island poses significant risks to both biodiversity and the local population.
“You cannot protect biodiversity while people continue to harm it. To better safeguard biodiversity, relocating people from the island is essential,” he stated.
Researcher Maniragaba noted that the increase in the number of hippos and monkeys following the relocation of people is not coincidental. He explained that the colonization of species depends on their access to food and security.
“After the relocation, grasses and trees have regrown and flourished, which is a key factor in attracting more hippos back to the island. Although hippos are large and somewhat fearful of humans, they are drawn to areas where they can feed freely. The reduction in human activity makes the island more hospitable for them, leading to crop destruction. Wildlife tends to be nomadic, moving to places where they can live in harmony and find adequate food and security.” Maniragaba stressed.
He underscored the importance of environmental conservation at Sharita Island, highlighting its social, economic and environmental impacts on both the residents and the country at large.
“For instance, essential services such as healthcare, education, and markets are costly and difficult to access on the island. Relocating the population would simplify access to these vital needs,” Dr. Maniragaba explained.
He also revealed that providing services to people in the island, is serving a limited number of beneficiaries but when they live on the mainland it will be easy to share services collectively.
In addition Dr. Maniragaba noted that the positive experiences of those who have already been relocated demonstrate the benefits of such an action. Their testimonies suggest that relocation leads to improved living conditions, reinforcing the argument that relocating all residents should be a priority.
“If the residents of the island call for relocation and those who have already moved are living in better conditions, it’s clear that relocating everyone should be the focus,” Dr Maniragaba added
The relocation of Sharita residents has inspired the nation to save more people countrywide whom are reported to live in the high risk zones.
So far, over 70 percent of the island’s population has been relocated to Rweru model village where residents have easy access to clean water, electricity, healthcare services, schools, markets, among other amenities.
The initiative launched in 2016, so far, in all 30 districts of Rwanda, a model village was constructed for poor residents and high risk zone duelers. Each year, on July 4, the country celebrates the Liberation Day anniversary. The same day, also a new model village is inaugurated, and hundreds of houses units are handed over to the residents.
Francois Hakizimana, 56 year-old resident of Sharita. He calls for relocation since they are still facing environment challenges and experience consequences of hippos in their plantations.
A busy canoe crossing the lake on May 3, 2024. They are former residents who relocated. Captured here from the island, where they continue to roll farming. At Sharita Island, even if Hippos are considered to be dangerous to people, but residents also confirmed that hippo waste serve as medicinesAt Sharita Island, even if Hippos are considered to be dangerous to people, but residents also confirmed that hippo waste serve as medicinesAt Sharita Island, even if Hippos are considered to be dangerous to people, but residents also confirmed that hippo waste serve as medicines
