English
Kinyarwanda
The Regional Police Commander (RPC) for the Southern Province, Chief Supt. Felly Bahizi has warned against the persistent cutting and trafficking of trees which will have far-reaching consequences to the environment, if not stopped.
Chief Supt. Bahizi was speaking during the public destruction of about 30 tones of stumps of a local plant known as umushikiri in Murambi village, Rwesero cell of Busasamana sector on March 25.
The tree stumps used as raw material in the production of perfume and lotion, were seized in the district in the past few months. They were apparently being trafficked out of the country.
He said that most of those involved in these illegal acts were arrested and warned cautioned of severe consequences to whoever still indulges felling and trafficking of trees.
The district mayor, Abdallah Murenzi said the seizure, arrests and public destruction of these tree stumps should be a lesson to anyone connected to these acts.
“Cutting of trees had an impact on the environment and it’s illegal and punishable by the law in Rwanda,” Mr. Murenzi told hundreds of area residents who were present.
Chief Supt. Hubert Gashagaza, the Southern region Police spokesperson thanked the continued partnership between Police and the public, which led to the arrest of people involved in cutting of trees.
He asked them to continue with the spirit by providing information on anyone involved in any illegal act to help in fighting and preventing crimes and protecting the environment in particular.
