RWAMAGANA–The Director of Research at the Geology and Mines Department, Hildebrand Kanzira, has urged Rwanda mining association to professionalise their job.Kanzira made the call while addressing hundreds of miners, who had turned up for election of Eastern Province representatives to Rwanda Mining Association (RMA), in Kayonza district at the week end.A committee of eight was elected to represent the province in the recently formed association of miners.Kanzira said that the mining sector is growing and was destined for greater things. He said that the area of research was still wanting.He cited the recent discovery of special stones that formed raw materials for East African Granite industry in Nyagatre, as a proof of low exploitation of minerals in the country."Mining must be done in organised way...days of rudimental mining methods are gone. It’s only recently that we started using rocks to produce granite tiles."We need scientific research to maximally exploit abundant natural resources amidst us,” he said."Our miners only think of casseterite, tin, gold and wolfram yet we have other precious stones and clay. The best utensils are made of clay...our miners should know this”.Damien Munyarugerero Nsanza the deputy chairman, RMA, reiterated the need by all practitioners to meet and abide by international mining standards."As we professionalise mining, we expect all miners to adhere to given directives. We are working with our partners RBS, REMA, GMD, etc, to streamline mining in Rwanda,” he said.Munyarugero added that management of mining activities was decentralised for purposes of effectiveness."Mining must be done in planned way...the association will punish anyone who won’t fulfil set standards. This will include closing business of a company in question”.John Mugabo the Mayor of Kayonza district, who presided over the function, applauded the association’s priorities, particularly environmental protection."Mining should be a blessing and not a curse. That you now think of protecting miners and environment gives us hope. We have lost many lives as a result of disorganised mining,” he said.