BUJUMBURA August 3rd (ABP) – The National Assembly Speaker Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe opened on Monday August 2, 2021 in the Kigobe House, the ordinary parliamentary session of August 2021.
In his speech, Mr. Ndabirabe praised the work done by the members of the office of the National Assembly during the recess month to visit eleven provinces to see the social, economic, and humanitarian and security realities. He added that along with parliamentarians elected in the provinces visited, members of the office of the National Assembly participated in development activities and supervision of the people with a view to improving agricultural production.
The members of the office of the National Assembly also made encouraging visits to tourist sites, schools and academics and had the opportunity to make support contacts for community and farming development initiatives, initiated individually or in cooperatives. As specified by the speaker of the National Assembly, the visits and meetings held with citizens made it possible to address various issues, in particular those concerning the usefulness of cooperatives, the successful use of FONIC disbursements, registration of arable land in the communal land services, livestock in permanent stabling, the fight against juvenile delinquency, the promotion of education and schooling for young people, the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and so many other issues.
Mr. Ndabirabe also said that in addition to the field visits, the National Assembly carried out parliamentary diplomacy activities which took place via video conference.
According to him, the MPs followed during the month of recess, the implementation of government policies in the management of the internal and external affairs of the country.
That is the reason why the National Assembly expressed its support for the firm will of the “responsible” and “hardworking” government to clean up the justice sector.
Regarding the demolition of anarchic constructions and buildings erected in green spaces, the National Assembly congratulated the people who understood the appeal for order launched by the government and invited those who lag behind in the execution to respect the administrative instructions. She encouraged the interior ministry to check that the demolitions were running smoothly to avoid possible abuses.
At the diplomatic level, the National Assembly is satisfied with the initiatives undertaken to consolidate relations of friendship and cooperation with neighboring countries. Thus, the National Assembly has encouraged the government to carry out that mission of strengthening good neighborly ties.
The speaker of the National Assembly further pointed out that article 163 of the constitution of Burundi stipulates that the parliament passes the law and controls the government action; hence the National Assembly intends to consider the agenda sent by the government.
Thus 14 bills will be analyzed, including the bill governing electronic transactions in Burundi, the bill regulating migration in Burundi, the bill on the establishment, organization and functioning of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR), the bill on revision of the organic law of February 20, 2017 on the missions, organization and functioning of the Burundi national police as well as other bills.
Mr. Ndabirabe took the opportunity to announce to the participants that the institution he chairs has already started construction work on an additional building with the aim of reducing the office population in order to improve the working conditions of staff of the National Assembly and facilitate better performance.