Category: Government & Politics

Several people met in front of the General Commissioner for Migration in Bujumbura do not hide it, they deplore a certain corruption in the process of obtaining travel documents. These people are calling for more transparency.

“This is the third time I have come here to look for a passport. Today, I am told to come back tomorrow. Others arrive and enter directly. It smacks of corruption. What injustice! “, deplores with bitterness a woman met in front of the offices of the General Commissioner for Migration with a passport application form in her hands.

At 10 a.m. on June 6, the queue outside the doors of the said police station continues to grow. People are waiting for passport application forms to be granted. “We will give you the forms and you go home. You will come back tomorrow with these forms, ”communicates a policeman.

Suddenly, a mess begins in front of the door. People approach the police to explain their concerns or to ask for exemptions.

Some passport applicants speak of “non-transparency”. For them, distributing forms to return the next day is only a strategy to favor certain applicants for travel documents who will pay bribes.

“I have just paid 20 thousand BIF so that my brother can go through the door, after having received a form”, indicates a resident of Kamenge. He is delighted with the “intervention of his friend”, a policeman from the police station.

Another person approached confides that it is difficult to obtain a document without giving a little money to a policeman at the police station. Yesterday, he reveals, I paid 10 thousand BIF to obtain the passport application form. “Fortunately a friend of the police intervened, otherwise I would have paid more”.

He castigates commissionaires among the police. And to call on the General Commissioner for Migration to take action against these “lost sheep”.

On the other side, a woman with a passport in her hands breathes a sigh of relief: “I finally got my passport. I ordered it last week. Nobody really asked me to pay anything in exchange for a certain favour”.

Pass seekers in disarray

Passport applicants aren’t the only ones having to wait. The granting of CEPGL passes and cards (Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries) is also subject to irregularities. Some claimants also report bribes.

On June 6, applicants for these documents were not welcomed at the General Commissioner for Migration. “Those looking for CEPGL passes and cards must go home. They will see the press release from the police station in the coming days, ”communicates a police officer.

A disappointment for this resident of the province of Bujumbura working in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He does not believe the police communication: “My CEPGL card expires in four days. I have to go back to the DRC, but I’m stuck. My friend got it last week after paying a sum of 170 thousand BIF instead of the officially known 18 thousand BIF”.

Same story with a young inhabitant of the Kanyosha zone in Muha commune. According to him, one must have an acquaintance at the police station to obtain a pass.

A police source denies any corruption or injustice in the granting of travel documents. “People are trying to go through illegal channels to receive travel documents, but we are there to ensure order and transparency. These are the same people who accuse us of all evil to tarnish the image of the police”.

On May 5 , the Commissioner General for Migration, Maurice Mbonimpa, asked the population to denounce the commissionaires and those who ask for bribes to obtain travel documents.

Source: IWACU Burundi

Two months before the general elections are held in Kenya, political tensions are rising a notch. This is when presidential candidates seek approval from the Independent Electoral and Conscription Commission (IEBC). Done since this weekend.

The presidential candidate of the UDA, at the same time vice-president of the Republic, William Ruto, was approved this Saturday, June 4 to stand in the elections of August by the Kenyan Electoral Commission.

Electoral Commission Chief Wafula Chebukati made the announcement this Saturday, June 4, in the Bomas of Kenya hall after Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua presented their letters seeking approval to the Electoral Commission.

In his message, Vice President William Ruto thanked the IEBC for its role in ensuring that Kenyans hold credible elections and urged them to remain honest in carrying out their duties.

“I am delighted to receive a certificate that will allow me and my deputy to participate in the August elections. We are confident that we will work hard with you,” he said.

This Sunday, it was the turn of Raila Odinga and his deputy Martha Karua to present their letters of request for approval to the Kenyan Electoral Commission, the IEBC.

And Raila Odinga received his certificate of endorsement of his presidential candidacy from IEBC President, Wafula Chebukati, in the Bomas of Kenya hall this Sunday, June 5.

Speaking after the exercise, Odinga called on the electoral body to discharge its role in a free and fair manner to ensure the credibility of the national elections.

“We are convinced that the Electoral Commission is empowered to organize free and fair elections. Therefore, we would like to urge this institution to hold free elections as Kenyans expect,” the veteran Kenyan politician said.

Odinga also called on Kenyans to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the election period. He also promised to present himself with his supporters in a manner consistent with the requirements of the electoral laws.

Source: IWACU Burundi

In the community development works carried out every Saturday, the population of Cankuzo province carried out Saturday, June 04, 2022, the development works of the Cankuzo-Mishiha road. These works were directed by the Governor of the province Boniface Banyiyezako and saw the participation of natives working in other provinces of the country.

The community development works consisted of plugging potholes on the Cankuzo-Mishiha National Road No. 13.

In his word of circumstance, the governor of the province Cankuzo made it known that the bad state of this road is one of the challenges with the development of the province cankuzo. According to the governor, the funds which will have to be used for other development projects are being mobilized for the development works of this road.

The Governor of Cankuzo took the opportunity to call on the people of Cankuzo to protect the environment by avoiding bush fires and drawing contour lines.

On this occasion, the native members of the association of nationals of Cankuzo province residing in Gitega province (ARCARG) gave as a contribution an envelope equivalent to 30 bags of cement for the extension of the offices of Cankuzo province.

Source: Radio Television Burundi

This Friday, June 3, 2022, the President of the Republic His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye brought together the natives, elected officials and administrative, political and religious leaders of Makamba Province in a session of moralization on good governance and patriotic awakening, a session which is part of a campaign initiated by the Father of the Nation himself, with the aim of encouraging all Burundian citizens to a national renaissance.

In her welcome address, the Governor of Makamba Françoise Ngózirāzana indicated that security reigns throughout the province and welcomes the close collaboration between various provincial services and the population. In the development sector, he is delighted with the step taken in the realization of various provincial projects, in particular that of the construction of the Provincial Office of Makamba, an infrastructure in floor of six levels whose works reach a rate of 80%.

Speaking, the Burundian Number One insisted on the socio-economic development of the country and is delighted with the change in behavior and mentality that is currently observed in Burundian society where all citizens are mobilized to develop their country.

His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye invites all Burundian citizens to show love by cutting short any form of division, to be artisans of fraternity and national cohesion in order to develop their homeland which is full of great economic potential.

At a time when Burundi’s economy is suffering from the underexploitation of its natural resources, President Ndayishimiye calls on all citizens to denounce and actively fight corruption and all forms of economic embezzlement. He recalls that unity and social cohesion are prerequisites for the socio-economic development of Burundi. As such, he urges the people of Makamba to get rid of old mentalities that have been at the origin of ethnic divisions.

In the 2nd part of the session devoted to the collection of grievances, the population of Makamba was able to submit to the Father of the Nation their concerns in various fields, especially that of justice where they are indignant at the behavior of certain magistrates whom they consider corrupt. . In relation to these imperfections, President Ndayishimiye reiterates his commitment to reform the Burundian justice sector from the bottom up and to punish the recalcitrant without mercy.

However, in relation to legal proceedings, he reminds the population that they must first go through all the authorized bodies before seizing the summit, that of the Superior Council of the Judiciary which intervenes as a last resort.

Before closing the session, the President of the Republic His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye invited Burundian citizens to live unity and cohesion in order to be able to develop their country. He calls on the population of Makamba to get down to work to increase production in order to sell their products even outside their province.

Source: Ntare Rushatsi House

The awarding of the national competition for the 9th year began on May 31 across the country. In the town hall of Bujumbura, the managers of certain test centers deplore some difficulties encountered at the beginning.

Tuesday, May 31. In the courtyard of the Rohero municipal high school, one of the centers for the national competition, he noticed the police. The students had already started the contest at 9:30 a.m.

9:45 a.m., at Notre Dame de Rohero high school, the situation is the same. The police are noticeable in the yard and the center managers ensure the distribution of pink papers.

“We started the work a little late due to the lack of supervisors and the delay of certain candidates. But, everything is in order for the moment. Tomorrow we will start on time”, indicated Abbé Donatien Bancinoni, co-director of this center.

He also informed us that out of 248 candidates expected from the independent school, ideal school of the Horizon and those of the Notre Dame de Rohero high school, 242 were present.

Arrived at Lake Tanganyika High School, the director of this center informed us that the conduct of this test is going well except for the delay of the candidates.

He told us afterwards that this center should accommodate 242 candidates and that only six candidates were absent.

It should be noted that more than 71,000 candidates in 920 test centers are expected to take the national competition from May 31 to June 2. This test will allow them to access the post-fundamental.

Source: IWACU Burundi

On Wednesday May 25, 2022, the President of the Burundian Senate Emmanuel Sinzohagera visited the Société Sucrière de Moso (SOSUMO) in Bukemba commune of Rutana province.

Emmanuel Sinzohagera first met the leaders of SOSUMO before taking a guided tour inside this company.

As indicated by the Director General of SOSUMO, the factory was established in Burundi in 1988. He announced that this company is now experiencing operational challenges due to worn equipment. He specified that it is now difficult for SOSUMO to satisfy the population’s demand for sugar. The Director General of SOSUMO announced a project to extend, modernize and renew sugar cane varieties, with a view to increasing sugar production. And to ask the President of the Senate to support SOSUMO in this project.

The President of the Senate Emmanuel Sinzohagera for his part let it be known that his move to SOSUMO was motivated by the complaints of the population in relation to the shortage of sugar which is observed in the country. It was a question for the President of the Senate as representative of the people, to inquire about the situation and the state of operation of this public company of production and marketing of sugar.

The President of the Senate Emmanuel Sinzohagera congratulated the leaders of SOSUMO for the renewal project of this company. He asked them to strengthen the research and development department, promote innovation and creativity in order to meet the needs of the population in sugar.

Source: Radio Television Burundi