Law on wildlife reparations passed

KIGALI - Members of the Lower Chamber of Parliament, yesterday, unanimously voted the legislation establishing modes of compensation for victims of wild animals. The bill was presented by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Security, Julienne Uwacu, during a session that was attended by the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Monique Nsanzabaganwa. The draft bill had, last week, caused heated debate in parliament, especially article four of the draft. The article stated that: ‘Compensation allocated to the member of family of the deceased killed by an animal shall be determined on basis of age and on consideration of the revenues the victim generated.’ A section of lawmakers opposed, saying that it lacked clear justification of how children would be compensated if they are injured or killed by animals. However, when it was brought back to parliament yesterday, the article had been amended to include children. The argument was that if a child got injured by an animal, the parents should get compensation for time they would spend in hospital attending to him or her.Article 5 says that any person injured by a wild animal shall be compensated all medical expenses and medication subject to presentation of supporting evidence, prothesis and orthesis as recommended by a practitioner from a recognized medical institution and compensation related to the level of disability and other losses inherited after treatment. Ends

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Law on wildlife reparations passed