Rwanda National Police

Over 100 members of the private sector operating in Ngoma District have been urged to forge a close partnership with security organs since they are key stakeholders in ensuring public safety.

The call was made on August 15 in a meeting held in Gafunzo town center in Sake Sector which was part of Rwanda National Police’s anticrime campaigns.

In his address to the traders, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) Inspector of Police (IP) Roger Rwakayiro spoke at length about the role of traders in ensuring public safety, how fire outbreak are categorized as some of the causes of insecurity and how members of the private sector are mostly the affected ones.

Majority of those who attended the meeting deal in petroleum products and employees of petroleum transportation and trading companies.

“You are key partners in ensuring public safety. The more you prevent fire outbreak the more you are contributing to public safety” said IP Rwakayiro.

With regards to the general security, the DCLO urged them to maintain the current partnership with security organs saying that, “Cooperation in crime prevention is key in ensuring public safety, you should enhance you involvement in community policing activities like night community patrol commonly known as irondo.”

He told them that although RNP has the mandate to protect business community and Rwandans at large, everyone’s involvement is equally crucial. 

 “Strategies like Irondo seek to engage residents and traders in addressing the factors that contribute to crime and disorder – and it is the reason why the business community should cooperate with police, through delivery of timely information, in ensuring that these strategies work efficiently,” said IP Rwakayiro.

He also warned the business communities against suspects who pretend to be traders yet in reality are criminals who deal in human trafficking, drugs smuggling and other vices.

“You must be vigilant against criminals who infiltrate the business community. Always be on the watch and sensitize your fellow traders about the dangers that such people pause to the socioeconomic development of our country,” he said.

The coordinator of Gafunzo cell, Jean Nepo Ngendabanga commended RNP for ensuring that security and order are enforced, which enables genuine traders to conduct their businesses profitably and sustainably.

“We have a high level of peace in Rwanda and this has enabled us to conduct our businesses profitably,”  he said.