WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — The District mayor, Céléstin Twagirayezu, has called upon police and sector leaders to step up the campaign against crime.

Twagirayezu said this recently while concluding a one-day security meeting in Gisenyi town.

The meeting brought together police and sector coordinators from across the district to discuss and evaluate the security situation in the area.

"Although there has been a great improvement of security in the district, there are still many cases of crime on the rise such as robbery, which needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Sector leaders should work hand in hand with the police and the community policing committees in their respective sectors to maintain security,” he said.

The mayor cautioned sector leaders against sidelining other parties during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"You should not openly be involved in the on-going campaigns but instead ensure that political parties are not violating laws,” he said, adding: "You should ensure that the whole exercise is done peacefully in your respective sectors.”

He called upon local leaders to do everything possible to provide shelter to the genocide survivors and other vulnerable people in the district.

"This is another challenge that we are currently facing; all these people have to be sheltered, which is the reason sector coordinators should immediately finish their houses,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gideon Ruboneza, Gisenyi sector coordinator, dismissed as baseless claims by residents that certain members of Community Policing Committees are responsible for numerous robbery and burglary cases in the area. He was responding to complaints raised by residents recently against members of security.

The residents had alleged that some residents hired by the sector to do night patrols were involving themselves in criminal activities. They had threatened to stop paying the monthly security contribution of Frw500 which is used to pay their wages.

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