GITEGA February 27th (ABP) – The Belgian-Burundian Synergy for Development (BEL-BURUNDI) and the non-governmental organization Burundi an Women for peace and development (BWPD), in collaboration with the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) , organized from February 22 to 23, 2024 in Gitega (center of the country), a first national conference of Burundian opinion leaders on peaceful cohabitation, consideration of peace for an inclusive democracy and the economic development of Burundi, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
The Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Mr. Martin Niteretse, the former President of Burundi, Mr. Domitien Ndayizeye, the Archbishop of Gitega, Mgr Bonaventure Nahimana, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, leaders of political parties approved in Burundi and others.
In his solemn opening speech to that conference, Minister Niteretse indicated that the participation of those different executives in that forum is a clear sign of their desire to be alongside the Government to engage all Burundians in the collective march towards the realization of the new vision of a Burundi emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060.
He pointed out that that first forum of opinion leaders has specific objectives which aim to establish a framework of deep and objective analysis between opinion leaders to ensure good stability and well-reasoned development for the country; to formulate strategies to unite the population around the common vision of a peaceful and developed country; to inventory and prioritize the challenges to achieve the vision of a Burundi emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060; to establish a roadmap for a favourable environment for the elections of 2025 and 2027; and to establish a functional monitoring framework for the results of the conference.
According to Minister Niteretse, that conference was beneficial for all, starting with the socio-political actors engaged in one way or another in the multifaceted development of the country at the head of which is the Government, hence that latter, according to him, hopes to obtain useful contributions for the preparation of the next elections and the realization of the new vision for Burundi.
Before closing, the participants in that first conference recommended that there be the safeguarding of the truth in the expression of opinions, the sharing of debates on the principles of management of the country and its effective management, as well as the reading of critical approach to the various texts organizing the elections.
They also asked the organizers of that conference to operate the monitoring-evaluation committee of the results of the conference, to be set up sector by sector, if necessary, to organize other sessions as soon as possible to deepen their knowledge. the 2040-2060 vision, to organize debates on national social cohesion, responsible leadership, the quality of political leadership, the new order of governance in Burundi and the economic growth model in Burundi, and to involve economic operators, stakeholders involved in development and teachers in upcoming conferences.
The participants in that conference also recommended to Burundian citizens to change their mentality, to promote national identity and responsible citizenship to better serve the country at all times and in all places, to put being Burundian before any other supporter. , to determine personally and collectively to change mentality in the way of conceiving how to manage the State and to focus, not on the unfortunate events that the country has experienced, but rather on the occasional opportunities for a bright future in the country.
They also recommended that they commit to uniting together as citizens of the same country, to put skills before activism in the management of the State, to promote rational time management, particularly in the exercise of their functions, to develop empathy to guarantee peaceful cohabitation, to organize properly as a party or coalition of parties to be able to participate well in elections, etc.
Note that the former president of Burundi, on behalf of the participants, thanked the organizers of that conference for bringing them together to make their contribution to the development of the country. The Minister in charge of the Interior, for his part, suggested that that type of conference be organized every month instead of once in three months if resources allow.