BUJUMBURA April 16th (ABP) – Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni proceeded on Thursday, April 14, 2022 in the Kigobe hemicycle in front of the Houses of Parliament, to the presentation of the report on the implementation of the government program for the first half of 2021-2022.
During his presentation, the head of government first recalled that this report is intended for parliamentarians within the framework of article 168, paragraph 4, of the constitution of the Republic of Burundi, which stipulates that the two Houses of Parliament meet in congress to assess the implementation of the government’s program every six months.
According to the Prime Minister, the report for the first half of 2021-2022, constitutes a mid-term evaluation. The maximum achievement rate is 50%.
The report concerns the fifteen ministries: the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security with 47% of the achievement rate, the Ministry of National Defense and Veterans Affairs with 39% of the achievement, the Ministry of Justice 48%, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation 40.5%, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning 48%. The Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research 40%, the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS 39.7%, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Equipment and Social Housing 35%, the Ministry of Civil Service, Labor and Employment 43%, Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines 37.7%, the Ministry of Commerce, Transport, Industry and Tourism 38.7%, the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture 37.8%, the Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender 39.5%, the Ministry of Communication, Information Technology and Media 31.3%.
With regard to the synthesis of the achievement rates of the ministries, they vary between 31.3% and 48% with an average of 39.9%, they are to be compared to 50% which is the highest rate for the first half of the financial year. Characterized by prudent management of public finances, the implementation of the government’s program for the first half relied mainly on national resources to some extent and the contribution of some development partners, announced the head of government.
The Prime Minister did not forget to mention that the implementation of the government’s program had to meet certain challenges, including the adequacy of the State expenditure necessary for the development of the country with the resources actually available thanks to responsible management of public finances. The Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the implementation of certain actions planned in the annual action plan (exogenous factor). The ministerial reshuffle also caused delays insofar as there was an exchange of personnel between the ministries which took some time.
During questions from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Finance, Economic Affairs and Planning, MPs asked why most ministries did not mention the half-yearly budget execution rate for each concrete action, whereas this aspect should be taken into account when drafting the report. The Prime Minister replied that the government has taken due note of this recommendation and will be taken into account in subsequent reports.
Regarding the state of progress of the pothole clogging activity, the head of government replied that they have already ordered the necessary equipment and that they will begin to rehabilitate the roads which are in poor condition more than others.
The MPs members of that committee also asked when the electronic billing machine in the collection of revenue in general and the collection of VAT in particular will be functional. The Prime Minister replied that this work is at a satisfactory level, specifying that they have already placed the order and that soon they will distribute that equipment in the departments concerned.
During the session of the questions of the parliamentarians who gathered in Kigobe Congress House, they asked for the inventory of fixtures of the orientation of the budget of the State primarily towards the interior of the country. The Prime Minister replied that this work goes hand in hand with the decentralization policy that the State is prioritizing.
The MPs also suggested that the town of Gitega, which is the political capital, be provided with drinking water and road infrastructure, arguing that these shortcomings mean that the urban population of Gitega may fall victim to dirty-hand diseases when the Water scarcity manifests itself a lot in the town. The Prime Minister has promised that he will inform the ministries concerned to make it a priority.