I would say illegal jobs are unlawful or prohibited occupations that people take up to multiply there profits or wealth by flirting with the wrong side of the law. We have all thought about it at one time or the other—breaking the law for money, risking our freedom and our lives for the lavish rewards that can come with being a successful career criminal. Following reports of the credit crunch that hit the world economy last year, it accelerated the number of illegal jobs in the world and there number is still growing. Smuggling, prostitution, human trafficking, all these illegal professions have increased lately since then. SmugglingRwanda is one of the countries that its economy has been assembled up by capital from illegal jobs, with smuggling being the crown activity. Umutoni keza, one of the natives in an interview with The New Times said, “Many people opt for illegal jobs because they do not have right or any qualifications to compete in the job industry”. “For a developing country like Rwanda illegal jobs have to surface because of the poverty, that’s why there are smuggling cases lately”, she added Diogene Kamari another native as well commented that people opt for illegal jobs like smuggling because they want there businesses to grow faster exclusive of incurring high taxes by the revenue. “Liquors, wines and milk powder most smuggled”, ahead line read in the news paper last week. The comment was cited by the Director of Rwanda Revenue Authority’s (RRA) Revenue Protection Department Seth Muhirwa, adding that most of the smuggled goods in the country come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On several occasions the police of Rwanda have witnessed smuggling and growing of drug leaves commonly known as “ganja”. Last year in December the police burnt over thirty sucks of drugs that were ready to go on the black market. The Rwanda police spokesperson Eric Kayiranga in an interview with The New Times said illegal jobs exist in Rwanda, citing an example like smuggling. Anybody who violates the laws is meant to adhere to it “We implement the laws that are setup, the laws that regard our mandate and maintaining law and order” he commented. The act however is not only common in Rwanda but also in countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where most of the smuggled go by. For instance in Uganda in 2008 a 30 year old man was held at the Entebbe International air port after being found with manufactured cocaine ready for the black market. ProstitutionBesides smuggling, prostitution is another situation against the law that surfaces in Rwanda, though on the contrary its legal in some countries. “Nevertheless, due to the immense poverty in the country, many women have been forced into prostitution to make money. On the other hand if I may use terminologies of a game I would describe the prostitution situation in Rwanda “as being awarded a yellow card but still making fouls”. In March 2007 President Paul Kagame gave a speech stating that prostitution in Rwanda must be stopped, he stated “It is not part of Rwanda’s path to development and, therefore, it must stop” Despite the strict criminalizing policy towards prostitution with the sex seller rather than the sex buyer being prosecuted. Prostitution has not vanished. On the other hand the society it self has tried certainly to play down the act of prostitution in Rwanda. The upcoming of groups like “The sisters of Rwanda” have helped young women on streets from trading themselves. The Sisters of Rwanda is an NGO which started in 2005, with Pastor Joseph Ayienga as the brain behind it. The organization has taken the initiative to take care of young women and girls from the streets so they can have a better livelihood. Money launderingI know some of us have considered once or twice seeing how much you can fetch in the illegal act. It’s dealing in fake money. The act is familiar every where. Though comparing Rwanda to her neighboring countries. In Rwanda it’s still on the low. Despite the fact of poverty being the main reason to why people join money laundering Idleness and illiteracy have also accelerated the act. Since people luck what to do and have to look for survivor they end up in money laundering business. Expecting to gain from it. Human traffickingIt is a deadly at that an illegal job. It involves violation of human rights and destruction of victims’ lives. Though the situation is much less common in Rwanda. In Africa it’s at its peak in Nigeria. Overseas countries like France, Italy, and USA with Ukraine, Russia, and Czech Republic as the main trade routes. None the less illegal jobs have negative effects; on the contrary they still exist and have positive impacts on different people. rutarindwabob@yahoo.co.ukThe
