{Rwandans must enjoy responsibly and follow the law during the forthcoming festive season to avoid loss of lives and ensure a crime-free merrymaking period. }
These are some of the messages that were delivered on December 21 during a Rwanda National Police (RNP) talkshow sychronised on local radio stations and televisions.
Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Butera, Commissioner for Operations cautioned that Rwandans are too precious to perish in accidents caused by drunken and careless drivers, or in fires that could be started by a happy careless smoker who throws a lit cigarette in a dangerous place.
“The festive period is finally here and we are all looking forward to enjoy it,” CP Butera said, adding that: “However we also need to stay alive. We need to be responsible and mind the peace of others while also following the law to ensure our safety as well as for those of other people.”
He added that whereas Rwandans love to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day, they should bear in mind that there are others who are always plotting to use this opportunity commit other crime like breaking into their houses when they are away.
“Take care of your property and do not leave room for wrongdoers. To those intending to enjoy your festive season else where take measures to ensure that your houses are safe. Police will always be there to protect you and your property but it is paramount that you also take initial measures and avoid carelessness,” he said.
He noted that the force has taken further measures to ensure that everyone enjoys peacefully including transporting drunk drivers to their homes to avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol, which can result into accidents and loss of lives.
Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, CP George Rumanzi, noted that although road accidents had tremendously decreased in the last three months of this year, there are drivers who continue to breach traffic rules like over speeding, driving while speaking on phone, lack legal documents like permit and as well as bad maneuvers of commercial motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians, which contributes to accidents and loss of lives.
“Our work is continuous everyday and at all time, but this time we shall employ more measures to make sure that we we all enjoy peacefully. Everyone should respect traffic signs, and all motorists should have proper documents,” he said.
“We should not accept deaths through accidents because accidents are preventable. Therefore, over speeding and overloading and speaking on the phone while driving will not be tolerated as usual.”
While responding to public interactions,ACP Theos Badege, Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department, warned about tendencies by members of the public especially drivers, who try to offer bribes to Police officers after they are caught in illegal activities, to escape justice or other fines.
He said that this behavior cannot be tolerated in a country and in Rwanda National Police, that is renowned for its zero stances on corruption.
“This month we arrested 74 people throughout the country, mostly drivers on bribe charges. As the law states, they face up to 5 years in prison, meaning that their families are the ones which are going to suffer simply because of a careless action,” ACP Badege said.
“We have devised means to fight against bribery and corruption and people must know that it is better to go through the rightful channels rather than attract another charge as big as bribery.”
He also assured the public that Police will disseminate news and notifications reliably to the public and other security organs in order to efficiently maintain peace, law and order, and also called on the public to heed to the practice of community policing which has proved to be efficient in curbing crime.
Felonies committed in Rwanda dropped by 5 percent in 2014 compared to last year, owing to Police concerted efforts to end crime, including the adoption of modern and advanced detection measures and a continuous massive campaign among other initiatives.
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