Mining firms urged to ensure safety of their concessions

{Owners of mining concessions, including those owning sand and stone quarry sites, have been called upon to take safety measures at their sites to prevent illegal activities that sometimes result into disasters and loss of lives.}

The call follows two separate incidents last week when two people died and another one seriously injured due to landslide, after they sneaked into mining concessions in Rubavu and Gasabo districts.

The deceased were at the time mining sand at night in Rushubi Village of Gikombe Cell in Rubavu when they tampered with a weak a cliff causing landslide, which buried them.

In a separate incident on December 24, Jean Paul Nzabandora survived with serious injuries when a weak cliff carved in as he was illegally mining casetilite at night in a concession located in Nduba Sector in Gasabo.

The victim was rescued by the police and residents and currently admitted at Kibagabaga hospital.

It is alleged that Nzabandora tilted part of the site, which had been abandoned.

The director for environmental protection unit in Rwanda National Police (RNP), Supt. Modeste Mbabazi, appealed to owners of these sites to secure them to prevent illegal and dangerous activities.

“Most of the illegal and disastrous mining activities are carried out at night in sites that are not secured,” Supt. Mbabazi said.

“Mining at night itself is prohibited; we urge all owners if these concessions to put in place security means as means to prevent unlawful attempts that result into loss of lives,” he added.

“Such incidents can be prevented if safety measures put in place.”

He also asked miners to follow procedures, use protective gears and environmental friendly methods.