Rwanda National Police

Police in the Southern region has strengthened operations against illegal mining activities and people, who use minors in such unlawful and hectic practices.

In two separate operations conducted in Muhanga and Ruhango districts, Police and local leaders arrested ten people, who were illegally mining coltan and cassiterite and rescued two children, who were at the time being used in the hazardous and hard labour acts.

Those arrested in Muhanga District in a mining concession located in Nyarusange sector, Musongati Cell are members of the group that calls itself ‘Abanyogosi’ which has made it a practice to conduct illegal mining, especially at night.
 
The acting District Police Commander of Muhanga, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Vedaste Ruzigana, said that the group’s activities were affecting the environment and leading to loss of lives.

“They were found inside the concession mining, but these are operations that also combine education. Some of these people don’t understand the risks involved whether in relation to their lives or the environment. So, together with local authorities, we try to educate and show them how they can better their lives through other available government development programmes,” CIP Ruzigana said.

According to CIP Ruzigana, some people have died in these mining sites, which were closed due to safety concerns.

Meanwhile, in Ruhango District, Police and local leaders warned mining companies against using minors in such hectic and hazardous activities.

This was after two children were found being used in a mining concession called Kalijam localed in Mwendo Sector, Saruheshyi Cell in Rugasare Village.
 
CIP Steven Ndibarema, the acting DPC of Ruhango said that Police and local leaders were conducting an inspection at the site when they found the two young boys being used in mining.

“We were conducting an inspection at different mining sites to assess their compliance with the regulations, we found the two young boys at Kalijam site. This is an act of child labour punishable by law,” CIP Ndibarema said.
 
“Fighting child labour is one of the campaigns that Rwanda National Police (RNP) conducts in partnership with other relevant institutions and local leaders to educate the public, at the same time ensure that minors are rescued and the law on child protection enforced,” he added.
 
Child labor is the denial of children’s rights and a barrier to holistic child development.
 
Rwanda has made significant efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor where the government adopted several new laws to strengthen the protection of children.
 
Article 6 of the law regulating labor in Rwanda, prohibits subjecting a child below the age of 18 to any form of works, which are physically harmful to the child; work underground, underwater, at dangerous heights or in confined space; work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools or which involves manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in an environment, which exposes the child to temperatures, noise levels or vibrations damaging his/her health; work for longer hours or during the night or performed in confined spaces.

Under article 117, an employer, who personally subjects a child to any of the prohibited forms of work for the child referred to under Article 6, commits an offence. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than five years and a fine of not less than Rwf500,000 and not more than Rwf5 million, or one of these penalties.