Gicumbi: Mayor Nzabonimpa vows to intensify campaign against illicit alcohol

Authorities in Rwanda’s Northern Province have renewed a campaign against substandard and illicit alcoholic drinks, with Gicumbi District Mayor Nzabonimpa Emmanuel warning that the government will not ease its efforts to remove the products from communities.

Nzabonimpa made the remarks during a meeting with sector and cell leaders on 31 August, where he urged local authorities to strengthen public awareness campaigns and work with residents to eliminate drinks that do not meet safety and quality standards.

“The government will not relent in the fight against substandard alcoholic beverages,” the mayor said, according to Gicumbi District authorities.

He urged residents who still possess the drinks to hand them over to the relevant authorities for destruction, saying this would help them avoid possible legal consequences.

The campaign comes amid a wider nationwide effort to remove unsafe and illegal alcoholic beverages from the Rwandan market.

Police have warned residents against producing, selling, hiding or consuming prohibited drinks and have encouraged people who still have them to surrender them to authorities.

In August, police said the crackdown included the destruction of illegal alcoholic drinks seized from manufacturers and traders in Kigali.

Authorities said the products included locally produced illicit alcohol, imported alcoholic beverages that failed to meet required standards and other drinks manufactured or sold outside legal requirements.

Gicumbi has also carried out large-scale enforcement operations.

On 17 August, more than 13,500 bottles of substandard alcoholic beverages, valued at more than 16 million Rwandan francs, were destroyed in Byumba Sector.

The operation involved district authorities, security agencies, residents and youth volunteers.

Other districts have reported similar operations.

In Gakenke, more than 3,500 bottles and 54 cartons of substandard alcoholic drinks were destroyed in August.

In Ruhango, authorities reported destroying more than 122,000 litres of non-compliant alcoholic beverages during inspections carried out across the district.

The campaign is being presented by authorities primarily as a public-health measure.

Officials have repeatedly urged residents to cooperate with enforcement agencies by reporting illegal production and sales and by surrendering prohibited products rather than waiting for authorities to seize them.

Nzabonimpa also asked local leaders to use community meetings to reinforce the ‘Hehe n’Icyuma’ campaign and encourage residents to abandon unsafe drinks.

The Gicumbi meeting covered other local priorities, including preparations for the 2027A agricultural season.