BUJUMBURA October 16th (ABP) – The commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of the assassination of the hero of national independence, Prince Louis Rwagasore, took place on October 13, 2023, in all provinces of the country.
In Bujumbura City Council, the ceremonies marking that day were enhanced by the presence of the President of the Republic Evariste Ndayishimiye accompanied by his wife, the vice-president and the president of the National Assembly accompanied by his wife, the president of the Senate and his wife, as well as the Prime Minister accompanied by his wife.
Other notable personalities such as representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to Burundi, Princess Christine Kamatari, the former President of the Republic of Burundi Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, members of the Government, representatives of political parties and others, were also on the site.
The ceremonies began with a mass at the Régina Mundi Cathedral, celebrated by Mgr Anatole Rugerinyange. Based on the patriotic spirit of Prince Louis Rwagasore, Bishop Rugerinyange urged leaders to always follow the example of the hero of Burundi’s independence, favoring unity, reconciliation and love of neighbor for the well-being Burundians.
He called on them to confess, fast, convert, become aware of the sin they commit and awaken this awareness in others to ask for forgiveness in order to be reconciled with the Almighty and thus prepare for the return of the Lord. For him, Prince Rwagasore was a leader. He had a vision of general interest and fought for the dignity and development of all people.
After the mass, the ceremonies continued at the Mausoleum where the body of Prince Louis Rwagasore rests in Vugizo. Wreaths of flowers were laid on the grave of the hero of national independence, starting with the presidential couple, the diplomatic corps, the family of the hero of independence and the political parties approved in Burundi.
Before closing the ceremonies, participants listened to the speech that Prince Louis Rwagasore gave after the legislative elections of September 18, 1961.
In Gitega province (center of the country), the circumstantial festivities chaired by the provincial governor, Venant Manirambona, began with a mass in memory of the illustrious deceased, celebrated by Mgr Jean Marie Harushimana, at the Saint Sacrament parish of Rukundo. A large people attended those ceremonies, including major provincial figures.
The speech that Prince Rwagasore gave, on the occasion of his party’s victory, on September 18, 1961, is the same speech that was played to the people participating in the ceremonies. According to that speech, he advocated making Burundi a haven of peace. He also dreamed of setting up a unifying government to lead all Burundians on the path to sustainable development. His vision was also to rehabilitate social justice while opposing the detractors of peace and security, as well as zero tolerance against the latter.
In his homily, Bishop Harushimana asked the audience to follow in the footsteps of the hero of national independence through love, tolerance and patriotism. The ceremonies continued with the laying of wreaths at the monument dedicated to Prince Rwagasore, by representatives of the provincial and communal administration, those of the deceased’s family and representatives of political parties, namely the CNDD-FDD, the UPRONA, Sahwanya FRODEBU, APDR, PRP and FRODEBU iragi rya Ndadaye.
In Kayanza province (northern Burundi), the ceremonies began with a mass celebrated in his memory. They have been enhanced by the provincial and municipal administration and many other segments of the population. They continued at the independence monument erected a few meters from the provincial office, where 10 wreaths of flowers were laid respectively by the provincial administration of Kayanza, the communal administration of Kayanza, the defense and security forces, the judicial system as well as the political parties starting with the CNDD-FDD, UPRONA, FRODEBU, FNL, CNL and APDR.
Addressing participants in the day’s ceremonies, Governor Rémy Cishahayo invited his leaders to make more efforts to fight bandits and crooks, and to achieve the national vision of making Burundi an emerging country in 2040 and a developed country in 2060. For him, that is the only way to follow in the footsteps of the late hero of Burundi’s independence. He suggested that he was the one who initiated the establishment of cooperatives when he was the king’s their son. He took the opportunity to recommend to his governed to avoid keeping their money at home and to join insurance companies.
Governor Cishahayo asked motorcyclists and bicycle taxis to respect the parking lots already set, while reminding them to correctly apply the road code given that they have been authorized to work 24 hours a day.
In Bubanza province (north-west of Burundi), residents of all five communes met in the headquarters of Bubanza commune. Six political parties, namely UPRONA, CNDD-FDD, Sahwanya FRODEBU, CNL, APDR and RANAC, laid their wreaths at the monument of Prince Louis Rwagasore.
In his speech, the governor of the province Cléophas Nizigiyimana called on the inhabitants of this province to remain faithful heirs of the hero of independence, by working with vision for the development of their households and the country. And this, with the aim of supporting the responsible and hardworking government, and its vision of a country emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060. The other call being the safeguard of peace and security, major pillars of development.
Note that the festivities began with a mass at the Christ the King Cathedral of Bubanza, where the priest invited Christians to wisdom and integrity.
In Makamba province (south of the country), the commemoration ceremonies for the 62nd anniversary of the assassination of Prince Louis Rwagasore also began with a mass at the Saint Pierre Claver parish in Makamba.
In her speech, the new governor of Makamba province, Mrs. Auntie Ncutinamagara, asked the people to continue to work in the fields to increase production. Mrs. Ncutinamagara further indicated that it is the contribution of everyone that will make it possible to implement the national vision of 2040 and 2060.
She also stressed that members of Sangwe cooperatives must make good use of the credits they received from the government. She finally advised the people to pay taxes for the construction of their country.
The outgoing governor, Mrs. Françoise Ngozirazana, in her speech, asked the people to lend a hand to the new governor, indicating that the provincial administration was raising awareness among the population to build beautiful cities.
In Cibitoke province (north-west), the ceremonies saw a large participation of students and civil servants from different municipalities in the province. They began with an ecumenical prayer, with which the Parish Priest of Cibitoke prayed for the bravery of the Burundian leaders. He also prayed to God, so that the population would obey and respect them, with a view to rising as one body to develop the country.
After the prayer, followed the laying of 10 wreaths of flowers, by the administration, seven political parties, women’s and youth forums, at Independence Square.
The ceremonies were closed by listening to the speech of the hero of independence, after the victory of the UPRONA party in 1961.
In Muramvya province (central-west), the commemorative ceremonies of the 62nd anniversary of the assassination of the leader of Burundi’s independence were led by the new governor of this province, Euphraim Ndikumasabo.
After listening to the extract from the speech given in 1961 by the hero of Burundi’s independence, Mr. Ndikumasabo introduced himself as a native of Rweteto village in Bukeye commune and recently administrator of the latter. He expressed his pride in appearing before a crowd of the population, the majority of who are young people who represent a good future for Burundi emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060. He asked the people to support him through prayer, good works and living in unity.
Governor Ndikumasabo also invited the population participating in the ceremonies to make reference to national heroes, regarding love of the homeland, namely Prince Louis Rwagasore, President Melchior Ndadaye and Bihome.
Mr. Ndikumasabo promised that he will be responsible in accordance with the will of the President of the Republic who thought of his name.
In Cankuzo province (eastern Burundi), the ceremonies began with a mass in memory of the hero of independence, and were followed by the laying of wreaths at the independence monument respectively by the administration, the parties CNDD-FDD, UPRONA, Frodebu, RANAC and ADR-imvugakuri.
After listening to the speech of the hero Rwagasore, the governor of the province called on the people to change their mentality by tackling household and country development activities. This is how this authority urged the development of cooperatives to support President Evariste Ndayishimiye in his vision of Burundi emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060.
In Rutana (south-east of the country), the ceremonies began with a requiem mass, followed by the laying of wreaths at the independence monument located in the capital of the said province.
In his speech, the governor of Rutana province, Olivier Nibitanga called on the population to participate in community development work and take care of the hygiene of those around them.
He took that opportunity to remind the population that the policy of permanent stabling is still in force, stressing that those who are apprehended with their livestock in the search for grazing on the mountains will be punished in accordance with the law.
Mr. Nibitanga called on the people of Rutana to keep unity as the hero of independence called on them.