Local leaders on the spot over traffic offences

Police in Eastern Province has warned sector Executive Secretaries against driving without permits.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Police in Eastern Province has warned sector Executive Secretaries against driving without permits.Executive Secretaries of Sectors across the country (416) in total were recently given vehicles worth 8 million Rwandan francs each, to facilitate them in their work.The Sector leaders will pay for the vehicles in monthly instalments for a period of five years.According to the police, some of the leaders immediately started driving without driving lessons. Speaking to The New Times, Eastern Region Police Commander (RPC) Chief Superintendant Alexander Muhirwa, said some sector leaders risked facing the wrath of the law by driving without licences.He advised the grassroots leaders to hire drivers, as they prepare for driving tests to help them acquire the licences."Road safety must be guaranteed...there is no short cut. I advise all those sector leaders without permits to stop driving forthwith otherwise they will land in trouble. We have talked to them and I think they will take our advice,” he said.Meanwhile, police has vowed to crack down on motorcycles without  number plates. Muhirwa said such motorcycles were so many in rural areas, adding that this has made work difficult for police officers who try to trace the motorcyclists who commit crime."These people have become unruly…they fear nobody and don’t stop even when police stops them. We have started a longterm campaign against them”.Fred Sabiiti Atuhe, the Mayor of Nyagatare District, lamented that motorcycles without number plates were responsible for the transportation of Kanyanga."We have been battling a losing war with illegal motorcycles…they have insisted on the crime. They are involved in smuggling. We shall work with the police to fight this,” he said.