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Kinyarwanda
Police in Ngororero District have impounded a truck that was found transporting one ton of amethyst stones that had been illegally mined from Gishwati forest.
Amethyst is a bright shining purple stone that is often used in pricey jewelry. Although the mineral is found in Gishwati Forest, miners have been extracting it illegally.
Rwanda suspended mining in Gishwati to first restore a nearly extinct forest.
According to the Western Region Police Spokesperson, IP Theobald Kanamugire, the intercepted truck had all the documents authorizing it to transport minerals but the consignment it carried had been obtained illegally.
“The truck is currently impounded at Ngororero police station; those that had rented it had bought Amethyst to illegal miners. Mining is one of the major revenue generators for Rwanda; it’s the kind of business that has to be done in a clean manner and by authorized personnel. There are clear channels that have to be followed, and going against those guidelines means going against the law, which we can’t allow,” Kanamugire said.
Kanamugire added that mining is regulated to ensure standards and environmental protection.
“Authorized miners should be environmental conscious; they should do it in a legal manner and always plant trees where they’ve cut them down. We also call on the public to always report to us any illegal mining activities,” he said.
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.”
