RNP is a people’s police force, we should support it

Ours is a corruption-free and entirely professional force. (file photo)

The Rwanda National Police has just concluded its annual Police Week, an event where the force dedicates itself, in addition to its duty of keeping law and order, to lending a hand in solving some of the pertinent issues facing our country today.

While launching the week in Nyamasheke district, the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel Gasana told the people that that the police’s work is not limited to only keeping law and order, which is the reason why they join efforts with residents in development activities like community work.

That should be applauded. In a world marked by increased violence, where in certain situations the men and women in the police force are risking their lives, it’s incumbent upon us as Rwandans to support our police force to deliver on their mandate.

We are lucky to have the kind of police force that we have. If you have travelled in the region and seen how other forces operate, then you surely know what I am talking about; ours is a corruption free and entirely professional force.

That’s why I say, we need to support our force, because it’s a people’s force dedicated to serving not personal but public needs of order, safety and prosperity.

During this year’s Police Week, members of RNP participated in constructing three houses for the most vulnerable citizens while two more families were given cows. These are deeds of a people’s force.

There were also some light moments, such as a football match played between Police officers and the youth in the District.

These might seem to be simple acts but we need to look beyond them. These activities tell us that our police would like to work closely with us. It is our security and we have to contribute to the efforts of not only creating it but also maintaining it. That’s why concepts like ‘community policing’ are important and we need to embrace them to ensure success.

According to IGP Gasana, youth are still responsible for most of the crime and criminal habits such as drug abuse. Most criminals arrested are involved with drug use.  For instance, last year the CID received 1965 drug-related cases and 1195 cases have so far been received in 2012.

For this reason, there’s a current campaign in partnership with the Youth Ministry to fight drug abuse.

That’s why I say, we need to support our force, because it’s a people’s force dedicated to serving not personal but public needs of order, safety and prosperity.

“Part of our duty is to address the concerns of the local community and we will actively target persons involved in the supply and use of illegal drugs, and the associated criminality that goes along with their use. RNP will always seek to disrupt those involved in drug use or supply,” said Police spokesperson Theos Badege.

In my opinion, the problem of drug abuse is a monster in society that we need to grab by the horns. It’s also a battle that our police can’t fight alone and expect to win. In other words, it’s an opportunity for the community to show their support to a force which aims at redeeming our kids from drug abuse which can only mean doom to their future.

Come to think of it, it’s our children, it’s our country, it’s our future and development that are at stake, hence, and it’s our battle to fight.

But who needs a lecture on how to triumph over challenges in this country? Ours has been a battle against all odds. Our history is full of brave battles that have resulted in huge successes against all sorts of challenges. That’s why I am confident we can win the drug war and many others affecting our communities.

We can’t boast to have money as you might have seen from recent budgets in the region, but we have values that are worth more than any amount of money.

In us, we have discipline, commitment, integrity and immeasurable love for our country that when coupled with the limited funds we have, we make the winning team that we have been and shall continue to be if we only keep and protect those values, now, tomorrow and in many years to come.

Yes, I am calling for my fellow countrymen to support our police force but also other institutions, in equal measure. We all agree that ours are relatively new, young and developing institutions most of which will be 18 years old next month when we remember our liberation victory.

Eighteen years before, we had almost nothing, known and respected by nobody. Today, we have something, a bright future ahead of us, and a strong, healthy and visionary President with us and institutions that want to serve us.

However, if all these institutions seek to serve us, with all our dedicated leaders who wish us a good life – it’s all there in Vision2020 – the question is: we that they seek to serve, how are we contributing?

We now have an opportunity to be part of these efforts as Rwandans; we can join hands and help the police, a people’s force, to uproot drug use among our youth, who are, by-the-way, the bedrock of our nation.

Posted by David Songa on Jun 25 2012. Filed under Opinion, Other News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.