RUYIGI July 19th (ABP) – The delegation from the Kibondo district paid a visit to Ruyigi from Friday July 15, 2022 to Sunday, as part of the strengthening of good neighborliness between these two border regions. This Tanzanian delegation was led by Kibondo District Chief Mr. Adrey John Magwiza.
A good neighborhood based on the strengthening of security, trade and the fight against the labor of Burundian children who seek work in Tanzania, are the main topics discussed during that visit.
In his welcome speech, the governor of the province of Ruyigi, Mrs. Emmerencienne Tabu noted that this visit is part of the perspective of preventing any detail that could constitute an obstacle or danger between these two neighboring and brotherly countries. She specified that the security, judicial and administrative bodies, as well as the border populations are all mobilized and sensitized for the strengthening of good neighborliness.
She called for particular emphasis to be placed on the area of security, the fight against the movement of Burundian children who drop out of school to go illegally to Tanzania in search of work, and the facilitation of trade between these two neighboring regions, she added.
On the side of the neighboring United Republic of Tanzania, the head of Kibondo district, said that thanks to the cooperation and good neighborliness between these two border regions, several concrete actions have been carried out in several areas to strengthen the well-being of their respective people.
Among other things, he pointed out that from January to July of this current year, 119 young people under the age of 18, who had just dropped out of school and left for Tanzania in search of employment, were arrested by the Tanzanian authorities and returned to Burundi to return to school.
In order to facilitate trade between these two countries, Mr. Magwiza said that in the same district of Kibondo, two markets have been built in the localities of Mabamba and Mukarazi, to shorten the journeys of traders who go to sourcing goods in Tanzania.
He also pointed out that Burundian traders in that region are not subject to certain taxes and duties imposed on those who come from other remote localities. He finally indicated that the refugees who were exiled in Tanzania continue to return to Burundi, and of their own free will.
To that end, he said that 182 returnees entered Burundi on Friday, July 15, through the Manyovu – Mugina border in Makamba province.
Note that this visit came in response to that carried out by the authorities of the province of Ruyigi on April 27 to 28 of the same year in the district of Kibondo in the United Republic of Tanzania.