GATSIBO - Police in Gatsibo district have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly selling government-donated fertilisers, the latest in a police crackdown of similar activities. Police said Jonathan Munyankindi, a resident of Gitoki sector, was arrested last Friday while attempting to sell fertilisers meant for farmers in the district. “We arrested him while trying to sell about 35 sacks of fertilisers with other accomplices who are still on the run,” Police told The New Times on Saturday. However, speaking from Kabarore Police Post, the suspect denied the allegations and instead accused his accomplices of having carried out the illegal business. “It’s true I was arrested with sacks of fertilizers but I was not planning to sell them. It’s the people I was with who had several times planned to sell fertilisers, I’m not involved,” he said. He named his accomplices as Theoneste Rwabuzisoni, Mark Nkomejekuyisaba and Theoneste Nziragira, all residents of Gitoki sector. Recently, police warned that anyone caught selling government-donated fertilisers will face the law. This is the fifth person to be arrested in connection with selling fertilizers previously donated by the government in Gatsibo district within a period of two weeks. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the government earmarked an estimated Rwf28 billion for fertilisers and improved seeds to help farmers boost production.The funds are part of Rwf44 billion that the Ministry of Agriculture had budgeted for this farming season. Reports indicate that about 25,020 tonnes of fertilisers will be supplied countrywide for maize; 16,680 tonnes of DAP type and 8,340 tonnes of UREA respectively. Ends
