Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyagatare District reached out to residents of Matimba Sector on Wednesday, and sensitised them on dangers and legal implications of unlawful mining and trade of minerals.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobard Kanamugire, the Eastern region Police spokesperson, while addressing the residents, said that besides being a regulated business that requires licensing, illegal mining activities increase the risk of fatalities caused by unprofessional mining that leads to disasters.

"Illegal mining is extremely risky to lives especially when you are not a professional and luck knowledge, skills and professional mining tools including protective gears. Remember mining is done under the cover of darkness,” he said.

He also took them through legal instruments that against illegal mining.

Article 1 of the Ministerial Regulations No001/Minifom/2011 relating to fighting smuggling in mineral trading, stipulates in part that nobody is allowed to purchase or sell minerals without commercial registration.

Under article 4 of the same legal instrument, transportation of minerals outside mining licensed areas (concessions and permits perimeters) is only allowed, when the consignment shows the source mine, its value and when it has the right tag.

Article 438 of the penal code, stipulates that; “Any person who undertakes illegal research or illegally carries out commercial activities in valuable minerals, shall be liable to imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of up to Rwf10 million.”