WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI — Karongi District vice Mayor in charge of finance and economy, Jean Baptiste Hakizimana, has urged officials to speed up Gacaca trials after it was revealed that 85 per cent of the first and second category cases are still awaiting trial.

Hakizimana said, "It was realised that residents in your Sectors shun Gacaca meetings, saying it is an old History yet we still have a lot to do with it,” he said.

He was speaking during a general security meeting held at the District headquarters, in Rubengera Sector, on Wednesday.

Members advised concerned authorities to join efforts to expedite the trials-if they are to retain their jobs.

During the meeting that lasted for about seven hours, a number of the key issues in the District were raised in order to get solutions.

On the growing number of street children in Karongi town, the meeting resolved to help resettle the children and get them what they can do according to their individual talents, as the only solution to minimise the problem.

Members noted that the problem of street children hinders the development of Bwishyura Sector. Participants were particularly concerned that some of these children drop out of schools to join others on the street.

These children were categorised into two including genocide orphans and those whose parents send them to the streets to beg as a way of earning a living.

"Most of them drop schools and spend the whole day behind tourists begging them. It is a big shame to the whole District but there is a solution in collaboration with the Police and other security organs,” said the vice Mayor.

The meeting brought together all Sector Executive Secretaries, Police and army commanders in the District, academic inspectors and religious leaders among others.

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