CIBITOKE, November 28th (ABP) – The 50-meter no man’s land established around the two lakes Dogodogo and Nyamuziba in the Rugombo district in Cibitoke province, is no longer respected. The sugar canes and other suitable grasses planted to form a physical barrier between the lake and the fields have disappeared and have been replaced by rice fields, sweet potatoes or other crops.
For example, on the older Lake Nyamuziba, dating from 1957, according to the entourage, agricultural activities are carried out right up to the water’s edge of the lake, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
Thus, it is becoming difficult, if not impossible, to limit the pollution of the lake. Consequently, the protection of fish and other living beings in the said lake is no longer ensured. Two fishermen met on site, Emmanuel Ntawuhorahiriwe and Thierry Bihamaso, indicated that fish production continues to fall with the shrinking dimensions of the lake. They indicated that initially, there were around 50 fishermen fishing daily in Lake Nyamuziba, but that, subsequently, agricultural activities, the use of pesticides and other chemicals caused the disappearance of fish spawning areas, hence the fish gradually decreased.
Some of them moved to Lake Dogodogo, while others completely abandoned fishing because the activity no longer allows them to feed their families, they deplored.
Those fishermen pleaded for the intervention of the administration to enforce the no man’s land and allow the existence of a fish spawning area.
As for the leader of Kagazi village where this lake is located, Emmanuel Nsabiyumva, the water in the lake continues to decrease due to farmers diverting water. Besides, some have arrogated to themselves the right to make the no man’s land their own, which constitutes the barrier between the agricultural lands and the lake.
To remedy the situation, he declared that he had transferred this question to the district, which promised to proceed with sanctions for the recalcitrant people. ABP/Denis NTIHINDAGIZWA