{The Rwanda National Police (RNP)’s Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) on December 3 reached to over 150 residents and miners of Ngororero Sector in Ngororero district and encouraged them to play a significant role in protecting their environment.}
While addressing residents the Director of EPU, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Corneille Murigo said; “illegal mining sends toxicants to wells that feed in Nyabarongo river and in the end the Nyabarongo hydro power plant will not be in position to produce enough power.”
He added that, “if we are to mitigate effects of climate change, we need to come up with strategies of protecting our environment jointly; we can only achieve that by collectively planting trees, creating terraces and even jealously protecting natural resources like forests
One of the miners, François Ntabwoba pointed out that the issues related to environmental damages are mainly caused by illegal miners and pledged to collaborate with the police to put an end to illegal mining.
The Ngororero Sector executive secretary, Pascal Simpenzwe appealed to miners in the area to ensure environmental protection and ensure maximum respect of environmental laws and policies.
“If you want to boost your business, you should do it in the most appropriate way as prescribed in your mining licenses, otherwise you may soon run out of work and this will not affect only you but also the economy of the country,” he said.
During the event, the Ngororero District Police Commander Superintendent of Police (SP) Marc Gasangwa also gave a lecture on crime prevention particularly human trafficking and drug abuse.
Launched in June this year, the Police’s EPU that operates under the Criminal Investigation Department, is mandated to protect the environment in all aspects, including air space, forestry and biodiversity, as well as the enforcement of different legal instruments.
The unit is in the process of ending a five-month countrywide sensitization on environmental protection and will soon move to conducting a systematic mapping of environmental crimes.
The unit is considered a major contributor to environmental protection as it comprises not only law enforcement but also participation in the preservation of environment through environmental education, practical interpretation of the environmental laws to citizens and engaging in the public environment management awareness process.
Most environmental crimes are less known, although the rate at which they are committed is also still very low. They can therefore pose threat if they are not prevented at an early stage, and the best way to do that is to first identify them.
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