English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has appealed to the public to abstain from activities that may massively degrade the environment in order to safeguard the future of Rwanda’s generation.
The call follows an environmental degradation case in Kamonyi District where Police intercepted on December 16 a Toyota type car, registration number RAA 532 which was loaded with 130 kilograms of smuggled plants locally known as Umushikiri/Kabaruka.
The driver, identified as Jean d’Amour Muhire, 30, and his accomplice, Jean Claude Mujyarugamba, 41, were arrested in the incidence and are held at Runda Police Station.
The plant is said to serve as a raw material in the production of perfumes and other cosmetics; however, it is understood that the two suspects did not follow authorized procedure before harvesting the plant, which is tantamount to illegal deforestation that is destructive to the environment through erosion, floods and landslides.
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Hubert Gashagaza, lauded the public for providing Police with timely information that led to the arrest of the two suspects, and reminded them that Rwanda’s ambition is to plant more trees than the ones being harvested for use.
“Illegal tree cutting contributes to the degradation of the environment. The deterioration of the ecosystem puts lives at risk. That is why for every tree that is cut down, ten more must be planted,” he said.
“People who engage in such activities are advised to stop immediately. There are legal channels provided by government for those who want to engage in wood production in a lawful way that is not destructive to the environment.”
Article 416 of the Rwanda Penal Code provides for punishment to anyone who cuts trees or who causes others to do so – and the punishments can be a prison term of six months to two years and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf2 million or one of these penalties.
