Rwanda National Police officers in Rubavu District are concerned by the presence of substandard-boats operating on Lake Kivu, as they are likely to cause accidents. According to the Police Marine Unit, old boats are usually observed operating on the lake mostly carrying people who are sightseeing.
"We don't want any Rwandan to die in a water accident,” said CIP Vincent Ntamahungiro, a training officer at the unit.
"There are people who come to Lake Kivu when they know how to swim a little bit, enter the water and end up drowning.”
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For the business operators transporting people, he said, "you should have good boats that are in good shape” and use life jackets appropriately.
"Everyone must put on a life jacket including crew members. Your engines have to be in good condition, it is not good carrying a passenger and after very few meters, the engine stops. There are some boats whose engines are in poor condition; such boats should not be operating.”
The Police Marine Unit also warned fishermen who operate night and day to also ensure that their boats are in good shape.
He said: "You should upgrade your fishing boats because there is a challenge of old boats that causes accidents. For example, in Rutsiro, we found a boat accident where the boat was broken into four parts. We rescued the people on board. It's all a result of not conducting regular maintenance. We recommend you take care of all the equipment used on water operations, for they are life savers.”
Deogratias Nzabonimpa, the Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Development in Rubavu District, also warned area residents of suspicious people who are likely to destabilize the country through the lake.
"They can use the water crossing in different districts bordering Lake Kivu. Smuggled goods can also be transported in these waters, as it is an open port," he said.
"We consider Lake Kivu as another border post.”
Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana and Emmanuel Ntamabyariro are some of the hotel operators who support the idea that safety measures should be implemented.
Hotels in the area are accustomed to carrying their clients for recreational purposes or day trips using boats.
Speaking to The New Times, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, emphasized that "regular maintenance” and mobilization "to ensure boats are well maintained and regularly inspected [should be respected] to prevent mechanical failures that could lead to accidents.”
Safety equipment and the use of life jackets, enforcement of safety measures to deter reckless behavior and ensuring compliance with safety regulations are other measures, he said, which should address the problem.
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Twizere agrees that traditional wooden boats, which are not able to survive bad weather conditions, are likely to cause accidents during periods of waves and high winds on Lake Kivu.
"Boats operators should consider using modern boats that can handle severe weather conditions. Also, people must avoid overloading; exceeding the capacity of the boat,” he added.
Figures from the Police Marine Unit show that 15 accidents were, for example, recorded in 2023 in Rubavu District while two accidents were recorded in January.