Private Sector welcomes the move

WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI — Smuggling on Lake Kivu will soon become a thing of the past if the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA’s) two anti-smuggling vessels start patrolling the waters of this lake which straddles the Rwanda-DRC borders.

The vessels which were purchased for more than Rwf.600 million   arrived on the shores of the lake last week in preparation for the launch of the anti-smuggling operations.

RRA officials are upbeat that the new move is expected to weed out smuggling thereby assisting in boosting revenue collection.

In an interview with the New Times, the Private Sector Federation/BDS zone manager in the west, David Rutambuka  welcomed the move saying, "We appreciate RRA’s initiative to purchase these vessels which are fitted with  high tech surveillance capabilities …the vessels have radar detection  and GPS facilities with high speed tracking system which will help to single out  smugglers wherever they are in the lake.”

Rutambuka added that the RRA intervention will further level the playing field by  eliminating  tax evasion  which  creates unfavourable competition against  genuine traders.

"It is helpful for both the private and public sectors. RRA in this case will have full control over taxation issues in the lake which will curb smuggling. For stakeholders like the PSF the measures will be able to get rid of illicit business in this region,” he said.

"The new acquisitions  will also help to ensure security of our traders who have often encountered robberies along our borders with Democratic Republic of Congo,” Rutambuka added.

Evaliste Ntaganda, the RRA regional coordinator, said that one of the boats will be based in Rubavu District along the Gisenyi-Goma border, while the other will be stationed at the RDF Marine base in Kibuye.

"The vessels  will be operating 24 hours but we are keen on scheduling night patrols in particular. We will be in a position to detect and apprehend suspect vessels from  a distance of 5 km at night at any given time or location,” he explained further.

An engineer whom we spoke to at the Kibuye site said that the anti-smuggling bullet proof vessels  are capable of  achieving speeds in excess  of 120 km per hour.  

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