Most of the Rwandan homes initially reserved for deported UK migrants by Suella Braverman are reportedly being sold off to locals in Kigali, as the Tories continue to flounder over its controversial policy.
According to developers of the Bwiza Riverside estate, 70 per cent of the 163 homes have been taken, with ‘sold’ signs popping up in front of the properties.
ADHI-Rwanda said the homes had gone to ‘private people who want to live in them’ which means there will only be spaces for a handful of migrants if flights from Britain do ever take off.
Former home secretary Ms Braverman had approved of the new estate on visit last year calling the homes ‘beautiful’ and argued that the African country could ‘resettle many thousands of people’ under the policy.
She toured the £25,000 home with the Rwandan minister Claudette Irere, and said while she looked around: ‘These houses are really beautiful, great quality, really welcoming and I really like your interior designer.
‘I need some advice for myself,’ Ms Braverman added, likely referring to the décor of her own home in Hampshire.
The homes range from £14,000 to £27,000 and was created in partnership between the country’s government and the developers.
Speaking this week from the site, Hassan Adan Hassan, the developer’s managing director, told the Times: ‘Currently we’ve sold almost 70 per cent of affordable homes.
‘We are left with some units. Electricity is connected to the houses. Water and fibre optic are connected to the houses. The roads and street lights are done.’
But the Rwandan Government said it was untrue to suggest 70 per cent had been sold, according to the paper, calling the suggestion ‘simply untrue’.
Yolande Makolo, the chief government spokesperson, added that the estate ‘is just one of the housing options where migrants will live alongside Rwandans’.
‘None of the assigned housing estates were ever meant to be only for migrants. The idea is to integrate migrants into Rwandan communities, not create migrant ghettos,’ he added.
It marks yet another hiccup in the road for the Prime Minister after the much-discussed scheme, which was introduced in April 2022, was stalled by a string of legal challenges.
Despite the set backs, Rishi Sunak persists that flights to the country will begin this spring.