Rwanda National Police

Police in Muhanga District has warned residents against illegal mining activities, which sometimes result into disasters, loss of lives and  destruction of the environment.

The call was made on Friday as 12 people were arrested, after being found in closed mining concessions located in Rwesa Cell, Mushishiro Sector in Muhanga District.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson of Southern Region, said that Police was informed by local residents about people who were illegally mining at night. Police intervened and arrested them in an abandoned cassiterite mine concession.

He noted that illegal mining puts those involved at risk especially when those mining concessions have been abandoned. It increases the risk of caving-in if there is unexpected activity, particularly during or shortly after the rainy season, for the soil is softened.

“We remind the public that it is against the law to practice mining without a license, or to enter a concession without the requisite protective equipment,” he said.

“Mining is not something that is practiced by anyone; it requires skills and knowledge. It is a profession that requires a license to the practitioners. Illegal mining normally results in  incidents, usually fatal ones”, CIP Twajamahoro added.

The Southern region spokesperson appealed to residents to avail timely information on people suspected to be involved in such unlawful activities.

“Providing information on time is likely to prevent unnecessary loss of lives. Illegal mining has ill effects on the country’s economy through loss of tax revenues; it degrades the environment and can result into deaths. Denouncing illegal miners may prevent all these consequences,” he emphasized.

CIP Twajamahoro also reiterated to the licensed mining firms to adhere to the requirement set in their license and take measures to protect the environment around their concessions, and also to take internal measures to prevent such illegal mining activities in their sites.
 
Law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, stipulates that;

 Any person who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a license, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) months and not more than six (6) months and a fine of not less than one million Rwandan francs(FRW 1,000,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000,000) or only one of these penalties.

The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.