EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — There are about 1000 Burundi nationals in Ngoma district who stealthily registered last year to get Rwanda national identity cards, the district Mayor Francois Niyotwagira has said.

Niyotwagira said most of the Burundians are residing in Jarama sector which borders with Burundi. He explained that in Jarama over 60% of its residents are Burundians. He said they will all be scrapped off the list.

The Mayor revealed this on Wednesday during a security meeting at Cyasemakamba Stadium in Kibungo sector. The meeting was attended by officials of lower administrative organs, police, army and directors of different departments in the district. It was meant to lay strategies to ensure security in the district especially during the upcoming Genocide commemoration week.

"We are still screening these lists because we know there are still others and you (leaders) should help us in this exercise," he said.

"The Law should be followed as it is," Niyotwagira added, stressing that all non nationals should be scrapped off the list.

Other sectors reportedly having a host of Burundians, most of them domestic workers, are Mutenderi, Gashanda, Sake and Remera.

During the meeting it was revealed that about 15 cases of fighting between residents were registered last week alone, with some causing serious injuries.

Other crimes reported the same week in the district were four cases of defilement. In one such case, a three- year-toddler was reportedly defiled by a 30 year-old man. This brings the number of defilement cases to eight since the month began. Additional crimes included five cases of theft, and four murder cases in which unknown assailants killed and dumped bodies in Lake Sake.

At least one case of genocide ideology was also registered last week in Karembo sector; where a woman verbally assaulted fellow women, saying "take away your Tutsi nose." The woman reportedly also stoned one of her colleagues but she was later arrested.

Also in Sake sector about seven girls under the legal age of consent of 18 years were found pregnant. According to authorities, most cases were attributed to excessive drinking during working hours.

"Be it on market days, weekends or holidays, no bar is supposed to operate during working hours because most of these offences are committed within these hours," Niyotwagira said.

He challenged the leaders to ensure that the regulated time of drinking be respected. The Mayor warned that whoever breached the directive would have his bar closed indefinitely.

He further urged the leaders to ensure tight security of the Genocide survivors and memorial sites during the genocide commemoration week which starts April 7. He observed that most genocide ideology-related crimes are common during that period.

During the same meeting it was also resolved that before the end of next month, all fishing boats operating on Lake Sake be replaced with those that can resist strong winds.

In the meantime, all boats without motor engines will no longer be allowed to transport goods and people in order to minimise water accidents. Life jackets would also become mandatory for passenger boats.

Ends