Kamonyi: Citizens role vital in fighting drug abuse

Local residents of Kamonyi district, Southern Province of Rwanda have been called upon by local authorities to take the lead in the struggle against drug abuse in the district.

A Police officer addressing residents after the walk

The call was made during a drug and alcohol abuse fighting walk organised in sectors of Nyarubaka and Nyamiyaga in Kamonyi district. The walk went up to Rwabinagu center a place well known to be the den for illicit gin (Kanyanga).

According to the Executive Secretary of Nyamyaga Sector Jean de Dieu Nkurunziza the center was chosen to host the walk specifically for the above reason.

He said that some of the local leaders in this area have been relieved of their duties due to Kanyanga trade and gave an example of a village leader who was nabbed with 15 jerrycans of Kanyanga.

Police representatives present at the walk discussed the effects of drugs and alcohol abuse. They outlined them as; fighting, killing one another, rape and school dropouts. They urged residents to provide information about the people who engage in these activities.

Some of the former Kanyanga addicts gave testimonies of how all the time they spent making and taking the liquor they benefitted nothing.

Marcel Nyandwi, a resident who quit Kanyanga business urged the people who are still involved in it to also quit it because they will never develop.

Police statistics show that towards the end of 2011 over two tonnes of cannabis were impounded and over 2000 people arrested. 7056 litters of illicit liquors were also impounded in the same year while people arrested in connection to the trade were 1427.