BUJUMBURA February 27th (ABP) – The Cabinet met on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at the Presidential Palace, Ntare Rushatsi House, under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic, Evariste Ndayishimiye, with 11 items on the agenda.
At the end of that Meeting, the general secretariat of the government issued a press release on the 11 items analyzed. Regarding the national strategy for integration and socio-economic inclusion of the Batwa for sustainable development 2022-2027, three objectives are targeted. It is about building the capacities of the Batwa, improving access to basic social services, social and public rights. It is also about improving their habitat, hygiene, sanitation and food security. The cost of the strategy is estimated at some 15,486,395,000 BIF, a budget that the Cabinet has requested to ensure the accuracy of the figures. After the debate, the Cabinet made observations including the forecast of concrete actions aimed at the integration of the Batwa. It is a question of granting them land, encouraging them to go to school, building them decent housing and encouraging them to join cooperatives.
In addition, the Cabinet considered the general report on the status of implementation of the recommendations of the round table held on December 10, 2021. That round table had the objective of “reorienting the management of projects financed by development partners and to draw up a joint action plan allowing the rapid implementation of ongoing projects”. The objective of that report was to identify the obstacles that had prevented the effective implementation of all the recommendations resulting from this mini-round table with a view to finding a better solution.
At the end of the analysis, the Cabinet concluded that the development partners must be brought into line with the public investment programs and the National Development Plan.
Thirdly, the Cabinet analyzed the draft law on budget regulations and reporting for the 2021-2022 financial year. The analysis of the Cabinet concluded that “the budget was executed both in terms of revenue and expenditure”. They noticed during that budget year that the planned exemptions of 18,000,000,000 BIF had increased to 102,960,359,958 BIF. Those overruns are difficult to predict, according to the press release. Cases that are difficult to predict include, among other things, drug orders during the year and humanitarian actions to be carried out during the year. It also concerns construction and supply contracts for State services or advantages granted to diplomatic representatives early the year.
The Cabinet passed the bill with a few recommendations, including the inclusion in the document of institutions that have not been taken into account even though they provide dividends. Another recommendation is to mention companies that generate dividends while in liquidation.
The Cabinet analyzed and passed the bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the capital increase of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the international finance company.
According to that press release, Burundi must disburse 3,447,748 US dollars to increase its capital at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, i.e., 1,538,000 US dollars for the international finance company.
Burundi is appealed to increase the subscription to the capital increase to meet the required deadlines.
The Cabinet also analyzed and passed the expenditure commitment ceilings for the third quarter of 2022-2023. However, they recommended making efforts to curb budget overruns and draw up programs and projects before thinking about budgets. It is at the time when during the 3rd quarter, a provision of five billion BIF, in excess of the ceilings, is planned to deal with emergencies.