Rwanda National Police

Police in Huye District have arrested a taxi-moto operator, who was seen recently transporting a woman carrying a baby on the back.

The act exposed the infant at a high life-threatening risk and a serious violation of traffic rules and regulations.

Vedaste Nzayisenga, 38, was showed to the media on Saturday, June 19, at Huye District Police Unit offices.

Nzayisenga's reckless action came to light on Sunday, June 13, when a photo of him transporting the woman with a baby in a carrier bag on the back started circulating on various social media platforms with the public critisizing both the commercial motorcyclist and the mother for putting the baby in danger.

The photo was taken by a resident in Gishwamvu Sector, who felt concerned and stopped the taxi-moto operator to save the baby.

The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire thanked the residents, who came to the baby's rescue and exposed such life-threatening traffic violations.

"Nzayisenga is a taxi-moto operator residing in Huye Sector where on June 13, at about 4pm, transported a woman from Huye taxi-park heading to Gishamvu Sector.

The woman carried the child on her back which seemed very risky for everyone. As they approached at a place called Ku Mukoni in Gishamvu Sector, residents stopped them because the baby was almost slipping out of the mother's carrier backpack," SP Kanamugire said.

Nzayisenga, a taxi moto operator who was arrested after he was seen transporting  a woman carrying a baby exposed at risk

Nzayisenga argued that he did not check if the baby was in danger as he focused on "making money."

Nzayisenga was paid Frw 2, 000 for the journey.

"The passenger had a big bag in front of her and a baby on the back. I admit that what I did was wrong and I put the life of the child and mother at very high risk as well as undermining road safety standards including exceeding the number of passengers on a motorcycle and mixing people with luggage. For that, I ask for forgiveness," Nzayisenga told the media.

The Southern region Police spokesperson advised parents to be vigilant and responsible.

"You don't board a vehicle or motorcycle and forget the life of your child; that is being reckless and irresponsible as a parent," SP Kanamugire said.

The taxi-moto operator was handed over to RIB at Gishamvu station while the search for the passenger is still underway.

Article 118 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, through carelessness, inattention, negligence, lack of precaution and foresight, causes bodily harm to another person but without any intention of endangering his/her life, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of at least three (3) months and not more than six (6) months and a fine of at least Frw500, 000 and not more than Frw1 million or only one of these penalties.