Rwanda National Police

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda has told transporters to “think beyond just monetary gains” but rather look at safety as a sustainable means to progress.

DIGP Marizamunda made the remarks on Wednesday while presiding over the training of operation and logistic managers of local transport companies, at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

While commending their partnership especially in the ongoing 52-week national road safety campaign dubbed ‘Gerayo Amahoro’, the Deputy Police Chief underscored that good leadership is pivotal in addressing some of the identified challenges to road safety.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda.

He reminded the operations and logistics managers that their understanding of these challenges is the first step in finding solutions and resolving causes of avoidable accidents.

DIGP Marizamunda challenged the participants that there can't be sustainable development if the safety of their employees (drivers), passengers and vehicles.

“There is a tendency for passengers to tempt their drivers into speeding so as to get to their destination early. In the same vein, drivers rush in a bid to make more return journeys due to the number of people traveling and this could be encouraged by managers for monitory gains, and in some cases results are fatal,” said DIGP Marizamunda.

He noted that Police will continue to enlist the support of stakeholders but in a coordinated and holistic approach to improving road safety.

“It is our hope that the knowledge acquired during this training will trickle down to drivers and employees you manage,” he added.

The one day training will be facilitated by RNP, Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Authority (RURA), Special Guarantee Fund (SFG) and Health People Rwanda, a local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) that partly, promotes road safety and first aid in Rwanda.

It was highlighted that the indiscipline of drivers and motorcyclists is the lead cause of fatal accidents.

Globally 1.5 million people die every year in road accidents. On average, one person dies in road accidents in Rwanda, every day.

The ongoing month (July) of Gerayo Amahoro campaign focuses on protection of infrastructure, which involves establishing more pedestrian crosswalks, repainting fading ones and erecting more road safety signposts.

Gerayo Amahoro is a sustainable 52-week national road safety campaign that aims at behavioural change for all road users.