KAYANZA September 18th (ABP) – The Burundian Senate has closed, in Kayanza province (North), the evaluation campaign of the ethnic quota system in the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Representatives of the different socio-professional layers of the Kayanza, Kabarore, Muruta, Matongo and Gatara communes met in the provincial capital under the presidency of the 2nd vice-president of the Burundian senate. Those from Muhanga, Gahombo, Rango and Butaganzwa communes met at the capital of Muhanga commune in the presence of the 1st vice-president of the Burundian senate, Mrs. Denise Ndadaye.
In his speech, the 2nd vice-president of the Burundian Senate, Mr. Fabrice Nkurunziza, indicated that the organization of those exchanges is part of the concern of the Burundian Senate to collect, from the population, suggestions for the maintenance or elimination of ethnic quotas in the executive, legislature and judiciary with a view to leading the country onto a non-ethnically oriented development path.
Some participants revealed that it is not yet time to remove ethnic quotas in these bodies. They believe that it is necessary to better review article 289 which talks about this ethnic quota to amend it taking into account the realities of the moment and the Batwa community which has been relegated to the background so that they participate, themselves, in different institutions on the basis of a quota defined in advance.
There are others who think it is time to put an end to this story of ethnic quotas so that people receive responsibilities taking into account their skills.
Still others believe that the removal of these quotas would lead to square one and propose their maintenance. For others, we must wait for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to complete its work.