Driving schools are among the services that are still closed as the country continues to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera, clarified on Monday, July 13.

It comes after The New Times observed, over the past weekend, that some driving school instructors were operating in some parts of Kigali.

Kabera acknowledged the issue and emphasised that whoever is involved must know that it is not allowed. 

He said: "It’s true that there are some driving schools either in Kigali or in some other parts of the country that attempt to operate or circumvent the existing guidelines, contrary to the directives."

"Let me clarify that driving schools are among the services that are still closed in this period as part of the national efforts to further curb the spread of Covid-19."

The Rwanda National Police as a law enforcement body, he said, has strengthened its operations against anyone derailing the government efforts to combat the pandemic in the country, "including driving schools."

"Some owners of driving schools, driving instructors and students have been arrested for violating the instructions especially in Kigali, including two driving instructors and two students arrested last week."

Last month, the Police arrested the proprietor of one of the driving schools as well as 15 students and their teachers, who were found conducting languages and traffic rules and regulations related lessons in the CHIC building, downtown.

Driving lessons can spread virus

Kabera added: "Whoever is engaged in this; be they owners of driving schools, driving instructors and their students are violating the directives and will be arrested and penalized accordingly."

"Driving lessons in this period can also spread the virus; exchanging the wheel and using the same vehicle is risky and one can infect the other in the process."

Kabera stressed that the RNP reminds all people to fully comply with all the outlined instructions, which are clear, to avoid all risks.

"One person can be the source for Covid-19 to many people."

Samuel Ndekezi, a 40-year-old driving instructor in one of the schools in Kigali was at pains describing their situation today.

Among other things, he said, the coronavirus crisis is taking a toll on their earnings.

Nonetheless, the father of five admitted that what his colleagues are doing - violating the instructions - "is so bad" since it is not only risky as "they can spread the virus." He noted that such behavior is also undermining all the effort the government is putting in to flatten the curve.

Ndekezi said: "It is really a bad idea doing it when it's prohibited, and for all the good reasons that we should all know by now. If we are people who love our nation, these are things we should understand quickly because it is all about our health."

"I have eight students who I requested to wait until the situation normalizes because I know that prevention is better than cure. What the government is doing is for the best of us all. A lot of money and effort is being put in by the government."

But Ndekezi also told The New Times that he wishes that just like the government is regularly monitoring and thinking about the resumption of church services and others, driving schools too should be given some attention since "we are suffering."

"It's tough. I have rent to pay and mouths to feed. My prayer is that we are also given ample attention and consideration in terms of guidelines on how to start work, when the time is right," he said.

These are "trying times," Ndekezi observed, noting that while the situation is bad for would-be drivers, "it is even worse for operators of driving schools, and us instructors" since more weeks of Covid-19-caused inactivity will be ruinous for their livelihood.

"Our appeal is that we also be given support and attention."

Earlier, when lockdown was first enforced, Ndekezi said, instructors in their theory classes were the first to be impacted as they closed immediately.