The 2013 edition to commemorate the Rwanda National Police (RNP) anniversary best known as the “Police Week” officially kicked off on Tuesday in Nyabugogo, Nyarugenge District with calls for Rwandans to uphold their dignity and strengthen their efforts in crime prevention for sustainable security.
The Police Week, which started with a road safety campaign, is held under the theme “Police-Public Partnership for Sustainable Security.”
The annual tradition held in all parts of the country started with the installation and renovation of signposts such as painting Zebra Crossings and putting stickers carrying road safety messages on vehicles and motorcycles.
Road accidents are among the major cause of deaths in Rwanda with at least one person dying every day.
The Mayor of the City of Kigali, Fidele Ndayisaba, while officially launching the exercise, observed that Rwandans should jointly fight what might cause insecurity such as drug abuse, gender based violence and road accidents, which he also said has negative impact on the country’s development agenda.
“The government has invested in promoting road security by constructing more roads and installing signposts to benefit every person living in Rwanda,” Ndayisaba said.
“Everyone has right to these public infrastructures. No one group should burden the other,” he stated, appealing to drivers and motorcycle operators to also respect pedestrians, especially on Zebra crossings.
He outlined over speeding, mechanical faults, driving under the influence of alcohol and careless driving as some of the causes of road accidents.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security, Ambassador Valens Munyabagisha thanked Rwanda National Police for living up to its mandate.
“The country has no future, if the future leaders – the youth – are taken away by drugs,” Amb. Munyabagisha stated, urging Rwandans to fight drug abuse, which is rated high among the youth.
The Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety department, CSP Felly Rutagerura Bahizi also cautioned road users to respect traffic rules.
The road safety campaign was held under the theme: “Give value to the driving profession by respecting traffic rules.”
The activities to mark the RNP 13th anniversary are scheduled to end on June 16th, a day when the Force was established in 2000.
The official launch of the Police Week was also attended other local government officials, heads and owners of travel agencies and drivers and motorcycle operators, among others.
RNP
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