English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called on the mining fraternity to increase their surveillance around their concessions in order to counter illegal mining activities which are fatal and dangerous to the environment.
The call stems from a fatal accident that occurred on July 02 in a mining concession in Rutsiro District, Mukura Sector, claiming the life of Silver Biziruwihoreye.
The 54-year old victim was killed by a landslide as he searched for coltan mineral deep in the night.
The Western Province Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Emmanuel Hitayezu, pointed out that mining firms should increase sensitization in mining communities about the dangers associated with illegal mining, as well as provide protective gear and adequate training to their workers in order to enhance professional mining.
“Mining companies should regularly conduct training programs on mining hazards to to mitigate risks and promote safety as well as enhancing the professionalism of their workers and those who are new to the field. Illegal mining tends to happen at night; therefore, companies should ensure that they have tight security around their concessions,” he added.
“Many illegal miners do not know the dangerous consequences that they face; therefore, the companies have a duty to ensure that the communities know all the dangers involved, so that people can shun this activity.”
He also urged mining companies to adhere to professional mining norms by protecting the environment through reforestation and not washing minerals in rivers, in order to promote sustainable development.
Cases of illegal mining have led to several accidents among those include one that occurred on June 19 in Buyoga Cell of Kabakuzi Sector in Muhanga District, when an illegal miner was buried by landslide after a cliff at a cassiterite mining site, curved in at about mid-night.
A month earlier, another illegal miner drowned as he tried to wash minerals he had unearthed illegally from a mine in Rutagara Cell, Muhanda Sector of Ngororero District.
The deceased, a 28 year old man, is said to have illegally mined cassetirite at night together with some colleagues; but as they tried to wash the minerals in a nearby stream, he drowned.
Police was informed about the incident and arrived at the scene immediately for further investigations.
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 Rwf3 million to Rwf10 million or one of these penalties.
