The District Police Unit of Rusizi and media practitioners operating in the district have strengthened their community policing partnership through which both parties will continue to raise awareness against crime.
The commitment was reached on May 2 during which a friendly football match was played between the DPU of Rusizi and the community radio of Rusizi.
The community policing match ended 1-all draw.
Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Musafiri, speaking shortly after the match, said that both police and the media share common interests of educating and informing the people.
“The partnership between police and the media fraternity is valued and prioritized by Rwanda National Police as one of the best community policing approaches to reach out to the masses to raise awareness in the fight and prevention against crimes,” IP Musafiri said.
“Likewise, here in Rusizi, we believe the partnership will add value to the existing strategies to inform and ensure community safety and this is why we are here today,” he added.
“When we are conducting anti-crime awareness in communities, we reach out to very few people and when you transmit this message through varied mediums like radio, television and newspapers, talk-shows, among others, it makes the work easy for police and draws a collective approach to ensure safety and security in communities.”
He was, however, quick to commend the existing partnership with media practitioners operating in Rusizi in crime prevention campaign programmes.
Lambert Nkundineza, the director of Rusizi community radio thanked the DPU of Rusizi for the “valuable efforts to bring all groups in the district together for the common course.”
“We should all serve the same purpose because both police and the media work for the good of the people. When we are on airwaves, we should remind the people how better to live their lives and that includes fighting whatever can affect their dreams and well-being,” Nkundineza said.
Rwanda National Police has adopted varied initiatives aimed at building a strong bond with the media and facilitating the later to easily access information, which is also enshrined under the media law.
The force has appointed police spokespersons down to the regional level; holds periodic “media dialogue” through which they forge further means to strengthen the existing community policing cooperation.
Late last month, Media practitioners and Rwanda Police officers conducted a three-day workshop that focused on freedom of expression and public order as well as promoting safety of journalists.
The workshop also sought to increase interaction of journalists and law enforcers in the interest of enhancing public safety.
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