GITEGA, October 2nd (ABP) – The Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture has organized since Friday September 29, a two-day national festival of culture, 2023 edition, under the theme: “Let’s build a Burundi that shines through its culture and identity, essential factors that will help us achieve an emerging Burundi in 2040 and a developed Burundi in 2060.”
The President of the Republic, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, honored that activity with his presence, along with the Vice President of the Republic, Prosper Bazombanza, the Prime Minister, Gervais Ndirakobuca, and the two leaders of parliament.
Ombudsman Aimée Laurentine Kanyana, the deputy secretary general of the CNDD-FDD party, Cyriaque Nshimirimana, various executives of the defense and security corps, the president of the Constitutional Court Valentin Bagorikunda, the governor of Gitega, Mr. Venant Manirambona and others, also attended those ceremonies.
In his welcoming speech, the governor of the Gitega province commended the step already taken in the cultural sector, emphasizing that the future will be very better taking into account that most of the participants in that festival were young people. He took the opportunity to thank young people who have already responded to the appeal of the country’s authorities asking them to create their own jobs instead of waiting to be hired.
In his solemn opening speech of that festival, the President of the Republic of Burundi invited Burundians to make Burundi an emerging country in 2040 and a developed country in 2060, based on culture. He recommended to Burundians in general and to young people in particular, to fight against laziness with all their energy, the source of underdevelopment. He advised them to work in synergy “Ikibiri” in cooperatives to improve performance, and to collect experiences in development.
President Ndayishimiye deplored the fact that there are people who study abroad but who do not return to practice in Burundi what they have learned.
Note that a trade fair of cultural items produced in all provinces of the country and a culture competition were on the agenda of activities.
Note also that the Gitega province was represented by the artist Lazare Rurerekana. The latter lacked a visa even though he was on the list of artists who accompanied the minister in charge of culture to participate in the international fair which will take place in Qatar from October 3. During the visit to his stand, the President of the Republic asked the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs to manage the case for his item to take part in that fair. That artist indicated that his ornamental drum was taken with the other objects even though he was not able to leave with the delegation.