Police launches citizens’ charter

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) yesterday launched a citizen charter that outlines the vision, mission, core functions and values of the force to the public. The charter highlights services offered by the Police as well as the centres to access services. The event brought together members of the Community Policing Committees (CPC’s) from all the districts countrywide, Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold (MCC/USAID) project and RNP officials. Speaking at the event, Internal Security Minister, Musa Fazil Harelimana, hailed the police force for coming up with the initiative that enhances citizen participation. “This charter informs the public about the role of the police and it strengthens the relationship between the police and the public,” he said. Harelimana called upon the CPC’s to work together with the police to solve criminal cases. “RNP has the duty to work closely with the community, be accountable to them and understand the peoples’ rights to monitor its activities,” he remarked. The Minister thanked the US government for supporting the community policing programme through USAID. Chief Supt Damas Gatare, the Director of Community Policing at RNP, said that the charter was prepared in line with the government’s reform agenda and the spirit of accountability to citizens. “This Charter signifies the institution’s commitment to serve and provide its clientele with a view of creating a better understanding and enhancing its service delivery,” he noted. Gatare urged the CPC’s to share the charter with the citizens in their area of administration to create further awareness of services offered by the police to the public. Stuart Symington, the US Ambassador to Rwanda, emphasised that every Rwandan would be secure when the CPC’s connect the police and public. “I hope you have the kind of motivation that makes Rwanda extraordinary by informing the citizens about the police roles,” he told CPC’s. Eugene Muvunyi, a CPC member from Kamonyi District hailed the charter, adding that it would improve the people’s understanding of the force’s services. “In order for us to perform our duties more efficiently, we need uniforms so that the public can identify us,” he noted. CPC member from Kayonza District, Eugene Mazimpaka, said; “We are doing well in our community, we only need strong partnership with the police so that we perform our duties more smoothly.” At the event, the MCC/USAID handed over two cars and five motorbikes to RNP to help in the collection of materials from the 250 suggestion boxes spread countrywide to gather the public’s views. Ends