More than 350 local officials were dismissed due to the violation of Covid restrictions, the Minister of Local Government, Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi, said on Thursday, August 12.

According to the numbers from the Ministry, over 470 local leaders in total were fined or dismissed for violating Covid measures, "yet they are the ones in charge of enforcing them.”

Apart from 388 dismissed village leaders, there are other leaders at cell level, sector and district level who were fined for the same, and they were given the same punishments as for any other citizen.

"We will continue to punish them (leaders) regardless of their positions. Whether you are a leader at a district level, province, ministry, or at the grassroots level, whoever goes against the measures is to be punished,” Minister Gatabazi said during a post-cabinet interview on Rwanda Television.

However, he added, "Our purpose is not to punish but to take care of the life of our citizens. We remind everyone that whoever goes against the restrictions is putting the lives of his or her loved ones in danger.”

He reminded that the new measures are not to be taken for granted but to be observed, so as not to have another lockdown.

Commenting about some local leaders who have used corporal punishment against people who violate Covid restrictions, Gatabazi said such is not tolerated.

"There are different ways you can follow up on people who violate Covid-19 guidelines and discipline them without beating them,” he added.