GITEGA June 21st (ABP) – Burundian senators gathered in plenary assembly, on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the hemicycle of Gitega (center of the country). They unanimously passed the budget bill for the 2023-2024 financial year.
The said bill is valued at BIF 3,224.07 billion, when it was BIF 2,194.8 billion, in 2022-2023, an increase of 65.23%, as indicated by the Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Audace Niyonzima, in his explanatory memorandum.
Minister Niyonzima said that the 2023-2024 budget bill was inspired by the draft document “Vision Burundi Emerging country in 2040 and developed in 2060”.
However, he indicated that this draft budget shows a general deficit which amounts to BIF 728.9 billion against BIF 197.4 billion in 2022-2023.
For Minister Niyonzima, that deficit is explained by the increase in the budget allocated to investment, according to the priorities adopted by the government to boost the national economy, the improvement of public infrastructure and the payment of interest on the domestic debt which were once underestimated.
In terms of questions, the senators wanted to know when the allowances for retirees with the last month’s salary will be available and when the unlocking of the careers of the personnel of the State services with special bylaws will take place.
To all those questions, Minister Niyonzima indicated that it is necessary to wait for the related decree laws.