GITEGA August 31st (ABP) – The Minister of Justice Mrs. Domine Banyankimbona, in collaboration with the Minister in charge of the Interior Mr. Gervais Ndirakobuca officially launched Monday, August 29, 2022 in Gitega (center of the country) the activities related in the elections of the members of the council of hill notables (Intahe yo ku mugina), scheduled for September 6, 2022 in all the villages of the country. It was during a workshop organized for the governors and administrators of all the provinces and communes of Burundi, the presidents of the courts of Residence and of high instance, the Attorney General of the Republic and the President of the constitutional Court.
In his occasional speech, the Minister of Justice, Mrs. Domine Banyankimbona said that the reinstatement of the council of village notables in Burundi will contribute to the reduction of land disputes and other conflicts that are frequently observed in society.
Minister Banyankimbona challenged the village notables who will be elected to use wisdom in their new functions and not to be corrupt in order to serve the population well, particularly in land disputes. She pointed out that in the past, the village notables who were in place made mistakes which then tarnished their images.
The Minister of Justice has indicated that the council of village notables will be composed of 15 members. To that end, the Minister recommended to the judges of the courts of Residence to collaborate well with those village notables in the context of promoting justice in Burundi. She also called on the latter to collaborate well with the local administrative authorities even if they will be controlled by the courts of residence of their commune.
Minister Banyankimbona explained that the actual elections of village notables are scheduled for September 6, 2022 in all the villages of the country. She indicated that on August 29, 2022, a training session will be held for governors, provincial police commissioners, municipal administrators and presidents of Residence and High Courts.
On August 31, 2022, communal administrators in collaboration with the presidents of the courts of residence will hold an awareness session for village or neighborhood advisors.
Still according to the Minister of Justice, all candidates will be registered with their village leaders on September 3 to 4, 2022. The list of elected candidates will be posted in the headquarters of the commune on September 8, 2022.
The elected village notables will take an oath before the president of the court of residence on September 9. The latter will have training relating to their functions as of September 12, 2022, she said.
For the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Mr. Gervais Ndirakobuca, the administrators have an important role in the establishment of that body because certain social problems will be solved by those notables without the administrative intervention.
Note that candidates must be of Burundian nationality, residing in the village where he will be elected, be at least 35 years old. They must be people of integrity and have the qualities of a good leader.