{ Police commissioners and senior officers yesterday met with thousands of commercial motorcyclists operating in City of Kigali and redrew their strategies to combat crime. }
In a meeting held at Kicukuro Stadium and graced by the police Commissioner for Operations and Public Order, CPCyprien Gatete told motorcyclists that they can play a significant role in crime prevention considering that they are exposed to a wide range of people, which gives them the ability to identify and report any suspected criminal before they commit offenses.
“We thank you for the service you provide to Rwanda, particularly we appreciate your role in ensuring public safety but you should always keep in mind that for you to prosper, you must maintain maximum discipline at all times,” said CP Gatete.
He went on to point at road safety saying that there are some motorists who ride recklessly and cause serious accidents.
“Most of you are young, others have families, there is no reason for you to ride like it’s your last day on earth; we want you in good health, your country still needs you; there is a lot you can do for your country and your families . There is no need for you to behave recklessly,” he told motorists.
Records from police indicate that since January, there were 229 accidents involving taxi-motos, among those, 74 were injured while 16 died.
With regard to concerns related to theft of motorcycles, CP Gatete told motorcyclists to always mark their automobiles; “most time we recover them but the owners have no proof that it’s indeed his; besides having the papers, you also need to mark or brand them.”
According to Celestin Ntaganzwa, the president of FERWACOTAMO, a federation of taxi-moto cooperatives, commercial motorcyclists have so far achieved a lot since 2009 when they first established cooperatives.
“We can’t sit back and see what we achieved being destroyed, we must preserve our achievements. This is why we must be part of crime prevention. We are aware of some of our colleagues who abet in theft; we must ensure we report them to the police.”
He also said that there is a new technology coming up to have a GPS tracker installed in a motorcycle so as to track stolen motorcycles and those that may violate traffic.
Motorists who attended the meeting, admitted that they have some of their colleagues involved in malpractices and vowed to ensure they bring them to book and be charged and prosecuted.
The meeting was also attended by the police commissioner for Community Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Damas Gatare, Central Region Police Commander ACP Felly Rutagerura, deputy commissioner for traffic and road safety department Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Paul Gatambira and the vice mayor of Kicukiro District Emmanuel Bayingana.
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