GITEGA July 3rd (ABP) – The Burundian Senate closed, on Friday June 30, 2023, the parliamentary session for the month of April 2023. In his speech for the occasion, the President of the Upper House of Parliament, Mr. Emmanuel Sinzohagera, made a strong appeal to senators to engage, during their recess, in dialogue with the people, about the end or the extension of the system of ethnic quotas in the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, in accordance with their constitutional mission related to article 289. To that end, he recommended that they help all those who would resist regarding that question understand the aforesaid article so that they can, in turn, bring their contributions.
Taking stock of the achievements during the last three months, the President of the Senate indicated that this institution has analyzed and passed 15 bills. He cited, among others, the bill amending the Code of Civil Procedure, the bill setting the general budget of the Republic of Burundi for the financial year 2023-2024 and the bill revising the Mining Code of Burundi. As for the control of government action, Mr. Sinzohagera indicated that the Senate has invited three ministries to provide clarifications on issues of concern to the people. Those ministers were in particular that of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines, that of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation as well as that of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock.
Furthermore, the President of the Senate indicated that the members of the Bureau have made visits to different constituencies of the country in order to inquire about the concerns of the people and to make their contribution in their development activities. He took the opportunity to remind senators to go and join the people of their respective constituencies in their self-development work and inquire about their concerns.
Mr. Sinzohagera also announced that the senators will continue to be with the people to verify the application of the laws adopted and to sensitize them on the safeguard of peace and security. The closing ceremonies of that parliamentary session were attended by some members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to Burundi, some representatives of national commissions and some persons in authority working in Gitega province.