KIRUNDO September 11th (ABP) – The Burundian Senate represented by the Senate Deputy President, Mrs. Denise Ndadaye, organized from September 7 to 8, 2023 in Kirundo province (northern Burundi), an activity to evaluate the quota system ethnic groups (60% of Hutus and 40% of minority groups (Tutsi and Twa), in the state institutions, according to article 289 of the constitution of the Republic of Burundi. It was therefore a question of analyzing whether it is necessary to maintain or not those ethnic quotas as they have been proposed.
Mrs. Ndadaye met on September 8, in the headquarters of the Kirundo commune, representatives of different institutions, those of civil society and religious denominations from the Kirundo, Ntega, Bugabira and Vumbi communes, to collect their suggestions on the Article 289 of the Constitution of Burundi, which can contribute to achieving a better future for the country.
She immediately indicated that the Senate is called upon to evaluate the ethnic quota system by addressing the people to gather their opinions, to explain the objective of the meeting.
According to the interventions of the participants, some are for the maintenance of those ethnic quotas, arguing that the Burundians have been affected by the crimes perpetrated in previous years, which they still keep the aftereffects in their hearts. They say that we must wait to take sufficient time to supervise young people until we arrive at generations of united people, who do not give importance to ethnicity, that is to say close-knit Burundians concerned about the development of their country.
Other interventions are against the maintenance of those ethnic quotas, saying that they are already in a post-conflict period, also recalling that those quotas were set during the Arusha talks in Tanzania. They want to get rid of that quota system which divides the Burundians, arguing that some of the latter are not interested in ethnic divisions, they insisted.
Mrs. Ndadaye also announced to the participants that after this collection, constructive decisions will be taken with a view to establishing good governance in the country of citizens who respect the laws in force and who are united. She took the opportunity to ask the hill chiefs to organize similar meetings to collect ideas from the people, which could also help in making final decisions.
The governor’s chief of staff Mr. Eric Nduwayezu, who represented the provincial administration, appreciated the work of the Senate aimed at charting a straight path that will bring Burundi to prosperity resulting from the good coexistence of Burundians. That visit by the Senate Deputy President closed on Friday September 8, 2023, in Busoni commune where she met the leaders of Busoni, Bwambarangwe and Gitobe communes.