oday Burundians are full of optimism and hope, such as has not been the case for years. We have ended an exemplary electoral process and the swearing in of the new president was among the most heartfelt and successful,” said the new vice-president of the National Assembly in Burundi, Onesime Nduwimana, to MISNA about the installation of president Pierre Nkurunziza.
This nation needs political figures with a strong sense of State and common
well-being; whomever wins the elections will have to demonstrate that reconciliation is not mere nice talk and good sentiments...it is time for reconciliation, from which no one must feel excluded. The challenge is now to guarantee justice for all.
Msgr. Evariste Ngoyagoye, Archbishop of Bujumbura
Women have had success in the electoral process that started last April. In local elections women represent 12% of elected officials, 5 % of municipal counselors and 35% of vice-presidents. The most important result was in parliament where 30.5% of representatives is female including the president of the National Assembly (Immaculèe Nahayo); the new senate is 35% occupied by women, including two vice-presidents (Yolande Nzikoruriho and Générose Mukerabirori).
“Now we face a very difficult future – he added – because the ten-year war has left the country in disastrous conditions. But goodwill and determination among Burundians is so strong that we cannot be without enthusiasm and hope.” Presidente Nkurunziza said that there are no longer any obstacles to peace and that all will be done to achieve normalization of the country.
“We all want peace and I personally believe it would be a great mistake no to benefit from this crucial moment,” said the interlocutor in reference to the National forces of Liberation (FNl), which has yet to abandon their weapons. Nduwimana, which belongs to Cndd-Fdd (same party of the president and former rebel group), has resumed the promises made to the people today. The emphasis is in fighting ethnic strife and achieve greater social integration including the fight against corruption and “a concrete effort to be adopted as of September: the inauguration of the free schools system for all children in primary classes”.
Infina Nduwimana, minister of communications in the interim government, noted that the designation of the two vice-presidents based on indications from the head of state, which will be followed by the nomination of the new executive. “I believe that we should give priority to the needs of the poorest people and I hope that the first laws to be voted by the new government will be in favor of the weakest” she said.
(From MISNA)