KAYANZA February 1st (ABP) – Two ministers, namely that of communication, information technology and media, Mrs. Léocadie Ndacayisaba, and that of the national defense force and veterans, Ir. Alain Tribert Mutabazi, made on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, a working visit to Kayanza commune and province. It was in order to listen to the concerns of the people and administrative officials, a check in Kayanza by ABP has revealed.
In his welcoming speech, the Governor of Kayanza, Colonel Rémy Cishahayo, indicated that this province has a large number of veterans and that they do not have easy access to health care. In terms of communication and media, he pointed out that Kayanza province has set up a community radio called “Radio Ubuzima FM” and that the latter risks closing its doors following the taxes it owes to the OBR. To do this, he asked the minister in charge of the media to plead for those taxes to be lifted. He also deplored the fact that some mobile telephone and telecommunication companies do not properly pay the annual communal taxes for antennas located in different communes. He also pointed out that the national television channel does not cover the whole province. Thus, he took the opportunity to ask the minister to look into that case so that the population can easily access information.
The participants asked the minister in charge of veterans to treat the veterans and the demobilized wounded on the battlefield in the same way because, according to them, some benefit from risk allowances while others are put next to. Minister Mutabazi replied that a decree on the treatment of demobilized soldiers has been enacted and that the latter comes to solve the problems they face. It was also mentioned that the Kayanza military camp monopolizes plots located in the serviced site of the locality called Ku Muyange in Kinga village, in the headquarters of Kayanza province. The Minister of National Defense and Veterans, replied that in collaboration with the administration and the Burundian Office of Urban Planning, Housing and Construction (OBUHA), the issue will be gradually resolved.
Overall, Minister Mutabazi called on veterans and retirees to team up in cooperatives in order to benefit from various supports. He also invited them to live well with the rest of the population and to go about to development work.
With regard to the questions addressed to the Minister in charge of communication, the participants pointed out that certain mobile telephone and telecommunication companies do not adequately cover certain localities in Kayanza province. For example, they deplored the fact that networks and connections are very slow in some localities. In response to that concern, Mrs. Ndacayisaba indicated that it depends on the location of the pylons and antennas and that the technical services are already at work to help people follow the information. As for the arrears owed by the mobile telephone companies, she stressed that the ministry responsible for the interior has already taken the question in hand and that the arrears and the annual communal taxes will be gradually paid.