GITEGA July 23rd (ABP) – Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye chaired on July 21, 2021, in his House based in Gitega, the activities of the Cabinet Meeting. The Secretary General of State and government spokesperson, Mr. Prosper Ntahorwamiye, delivered on July 22, 2021, the press release sanctioning the activities of that Meeting of the members of the Government with eight items on the agenda.
In relation to the first item relating to expenditure commitment ceilings for the first quarter of 2021/2022, presented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ntahorwamiye reported that those commitment ceilings concern all State expenditure, except those which are compulsory and irreducible, such as salary and debt expenditure. Thus, he continued to say, during the 2021/2022 budget management, the pace of commitments will depend on the pace of revenue collection. After discussions and debates, those ceilings were approved with some amendments.
The second item relating to the sector strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation 2018-2027, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr. Ntahorwamiye indicated that this sector strategy aims as a priority the improvement of diplomatic communication and development cooperation in general, the reform of the diplomatic career and the acquisition of a building housing the central administration services of the ministry, in particular. At the end of the debate, that strategy was passed with a few recommendations, he said.
Regarding the third item relating to the bill establishing the protocol manual of Burundi, the government spokesperson indicated that one of the innovations brought by the manual is to adapt to the multiple changes observed in the country since the establishment of the democratic system in the country, and certain protocol principles in force in the world. The other innovation is the establishment of a top-down precedence list, he added. The project will be brought back to the Cabinet Meeting for approval.
The fourth item concerned the bill revising organic law N° 1/03 of February 20, 2017 on the missions, organization, as well as composition and functioning of the National Police of Burundi, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security. According to the said press release, as corrections and innovations brought by this project, it is worth mentioning the abolition of the general commissariat of training in favor of a technical office in charge of training at the level of the general inspectorate of the national police of Burundi, the replacement of the central police station of Interpol by the central national office of Interpol in order to harmonize with the practices of the region, the introduction of a structure called “High hierarchy of the national police,” like the “General Staff of the Burundi National Defense Force,” the creation of a service in charge of refugees within the central police station in charge of foreigners and the creation of an IT office and a general chaplaincy office.
The same minister developed the fifth item relating to the bill on the prevention and repression of cybercrime. The above press release reports the observations made by the members of the government, specifying that the ministers of Information and Communication Technologies, Justice and National Education have been asked to support in the finalization of that project which will be brought back to the Cabinet Meeting for approval.
Regarding the sixth item concerning the draft decree on the missions, organization, composition and functioning of the national center for emergency operations, also developed by the same minister, the press release indicates that the center could be called upon to intervene at the level sub-regional, if necessary, given that Burundi was chosen to host the regional center of excellence in the field of risk and disaster reduction. In order to make the center operational and strengthen the existing emergency response coordination mechanisms, it must be supported by a legal text.
The Minister also developed the seventh item relating to the draft decree regulating the manufacture and reproduction of keys in Burundi. After discussion and debate, the bill was passed with some recommendations.
The latest communication, namely, the draft decree institutionalizing a national greenhouse gas inventory system was developed by the Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock. After analysis, the bill was passed with, among other recommendations, to ensure that the efforts made by Burundi in the protection of the environment have the counterpart through the obtaining of financing by the most industrialized countries which are the first to produce greenhouse gases that destroy the ozone layer.