GICUMBI – Local leaders at village, Cell and Sector levels in Gicumbi district were on Tuesday urged to serve residents with dedication and honesty.

The call was made by Mayor Bonane Nyangezi, while meeting the district local leaders, to evaluate various development activities in the area. 

"We are the servants of the people, that is why you should serve residents with dedication and honesty at all times,” he said.

Nyangezi further called on local leaders to sensitise residents to increase agricultural production and livestock farming in order to guarantee food security in their families. 

"In addition you should encourage residents to eradicate soil erosion through terrace construction and planting of trees, so as to avoid productive soil being washed away by floods,” added Nyangezi.

Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) 408 Brigade commander Brig. General Eric Murokore called on local leaders to maintain security right from village (Mudugudu) level. He said the village heads are much informed of the security situation in their localities, than any one else.

"Village leaders are the pillars of the nation’s entire security, because they know all residents residing in their village and are able to identify wrong doers,” said Murokore.

He also asked all grassroots leaders to coordinate security information regarding trafficking and consumption of illicit alcoholic drinks, commonly referred to as Kanyanga- which he said is disastrous to one’s health and is responsible for most domestic violence incidents.

The District Police commander (DPC) Superintendent Jean de Dieu Gashiramanga advised local leaders to live as role models. 

"As leaders, you should not be engaged in unlawful acts such as gender based violence (GBV), corruption and the consumption of illicit drinks,” he said.

Gashiramanga further said GBV in families is caused by greed, adultery, drunkenness and poverty. "That is why we should fight to stem all causes of GBV,” he added.

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