Police cautions public against illegal mining
Police in Muhanga District has warned residents against illegal mining activities, which sometimes result into disasters, loss of lives and destruction of the environment.The call was made on Friday as 12 people were arrested, after being found in closed mining concessions located in Rwesa Cell, Mushishiro Sector in Muhanga District.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson of Southern Region, said that Police was informed by local residents about people who were illegally mining at night. Police intervened and arrested them in an abandoned cassiterite mine concession.He noted that illegal mining puts those involved at risk especially when those mining concessions have been abandoned. It increases the risk of caving-in if there is unexpected activity, particularly during or shortly after the rainy season, for the soil is softened.“We remind the public that it is against the law to practice mining without a license, or to enter a concession without the requisite protective equipment,” he said.
“Mining is not something that is practiced by anyone; it requires skills and knowledge. It is a profession that requires a license to the practitioners. Illegal mining normally results in incidents, usually fatal ones”, CIP Twajamahoro added.