Drowning incidents raise concern

Five people drowned in ponds in separate incidents in different parts of Kigali in the last two weeks. The first three victims, including a three-year old -who had followed other children to swim, drowned in ponds in Rudiro of Kibagabaga Cell in Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District. Two other incidents happened in Gisozi and Nyabugogo suburbs, where children aged 4 and 15, were washed away as they were playing in a water channel, according to Rwanda National Police (RNP). Police called upon parents and guardians to take precaution and monitor their children. “These are unfortunate yet preventable incidents. As a parent or a guardian, you should take precaution and monitor children. It is so unfortunate that some parents in some cases don’t mind on the whereabouts of their children or what time they leave and come back home. Parents should keep a close eye on their children and warn them against dangerous places,” said Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, the police spokesperson for Kigali. With regards to children who drown, Police observed that such cases are common during school holidays where juveniles play in and around water bodies and swamps. Police statistics indicate that about 100 people, mostly children, have drowned in the last two years across the country. The majority adult victims committed suicide due to drug abuse, drunkenness, domestic oppression and harassment, police said. Most cases were reported in the Western Province with Nyamasheke District (15 cases) Rusizi (11 cases) and Rutsiro (seven cases) registered high incidents countrywide. Other cases, according to Police, included smugglers or drug dealers that drown attempting to cross water bodies, and fishermen, whose weak boats capsized. Police attributes other drowning incidents to drunkenness and suicide triggered by domestic oppression, harassment or psychological illness. Hitayezu also appealed to owners of sand extraction sites to always cover them as they are among the major drowning areas. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Drowning incidents raise concern