SOUTHERN PROVINCE/KIGALI

MUHANGA - Residents of Nyarusange Sector, Muhanga District are accusing Prof Munyanganyizi Bikoro, the former State Minister for Natural Resources for uttering threats against members of Intego mining cooperative who claim to have been conned of Rwf 10m.

Bikoro, an immediate former legislator strongly denies the allegations in an interview with The New Times. He refered this reporter to the Ministry of Infrastructure which is handling the case.

"All I can tell you is that this issue is being handled by the authorities but I have nothing to do with this cooperative.”

He said that the cooperative has had its own problems concerning its legal status, maintaining he is not part of the problem, neither had he tried to influence anything.

Residents reported the case of Bikoro, who recently resigned from his parliamentary seat amidst corruption accusations, to the Prime Minister during his two day official visit in the Southern Province last week.

The complainants told Premier Bernard Makuza that Bikoro, protected Christine Dusabe who ‘robbed’ members of the cooperative of their dividends worth Rwf 10m and has continued to pursue mining activities in other districts unhindered, demanding government to intervene and bring her to book.

"We formed and invested in a mining cooperative and later demanded an internal audit of our funds. This (audit) couldn’t be done, it was halted by unknown people,” Innocent Gakwaya, one complainants reported to Prime Minister.

"Bikoro was one of the people who threatened us saying that we are nobody to pose any threat, which made Dusabe untouchable,” he narrated.

Gakwaya and his group also accused Celse Gasana, the district Executive Secretary, of downplaying efforts to have the cooperative members meet and resolve the issue with the accused (Christine Dusabe).

"The sector leadership was supportive of this, but Gasana kept pushing us away and postponing our scheduled reconciliatory meetings and the audit could not be done after we were publically embarrassed by Bikoro in one of the meetings” Gakwaya added.

Other sources indicted that Samuel Mbarubukeye, a former district Executive Secretary was also involved in protecting and defending the interests of Dusabe, which had in the past raised conflicts with sector leaders.

Yvonne Mutakwasuku, the Mayor, informed Premier Makuza that the said cooperative was not certified by government and its legal status was changed into an investment group or company.

However, Gakwaya contested that the district had certified the cooperative.

"If the cooperative didn’t have government permission to operate, then it doesn’t legally exist but the case can be tackled by the local leadership and an audit is inevitable,” the Premier said.

Makuza also raised concerns about the long standing confusion and insecurity that has arisen from the illegal mining activities in Nyarusange and accused some local leaders of being involved in this.

He called for an immediate solution into the issue, telling local leaders and residents involved to stand warned.

"Conflicts have in the past arisen over mining rights and a couple of people have been put in danger because the mining laws and guidelines have not been adhered to.”

"This should stop immediately.”

Ends