The Mayor of Rwamagana district has said security and economic advancement were the major achievements recorded last year. ‘As a district, we achieved a lot last year but the main achievement was economic development where many residents practiced modern farming techniques which led to an increase in income generation for the residents’, the Mayor, Valens Ntezirembo said Thursday in an interview with The New Times. He asserted that he envisages further improvements this year because people have developed a positive attitude and are working hard to come out of poverty. Commenting on unplanned settlements in the area, he said that residents had formed cooperatives through which they are working round the clock to build modern houses. On crime rates, Ntezirembo, said security of people and property had improved and crime incidences across board had consequently gone down. He attributed the positive trend to vigilance where residents report suspicious cases to security organs and leaders conduct security operations. ‘It does not mean that we are stopping people from living here, but it helps to identify wrong people who could pose threats to the community. For example in our recent operation we found in some places Kanyanga (local brew),while some people were found in possession of military gear including fatigues and boots which causes suspicion’, the Mayor said, adding that those arrested were handed over to police as further investigations continue. Ntezirembo asserted that because of vigilance, there were few cases of crimes committed during the festive season. Rwanda emerged number one within the East African Community, in two categories of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Index on African Governance, which looks at safety and security. And it was ranked 4th on the whole continent in the safety and security category. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance is a new, comprehensive ranking of sub-Saharan African nations based on the quality of their governance. Ends
