GITEGA, August 6th (ABP) – Burundi Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye honored with his presence on Monday, August 5, 2024, the opening ceremonies of the 9th African Scout Jamboree (assembly of scouts).
The ceremonies organized under the theme “Safe spaces and new experiences” were attended by 1,018 participants from 34 countries. They took place at the national scout center, located in Bungere Village, Makebuko District of Gitega province (center of the country).
Upon his arrival, President Ndayishimiye carried out environmental protection work by planting fruit trees in the grounds of the national scout center.
In his speech, President Ndayishimiye commended the organization of the event and presence of African scouts and others who came to discover Burundi. It is a country of milk, honey and hospitable people, he said, before adding that he positively appreciated the theme chosen for that event. The President of the Republic also indicated that he sympathizes with the scout movement for its impressive number of young people within it. “I admire their dynamism, their sense of self-development, mutual assistance, their dedication to protecting the environment and their culture of leadership,” he added.
He explained that all those values fit well with the policy of the Burundian government; hence he called on the scouts to become more involved in the environmental protection:
“We must safeguard our planet, because we are called upon to bequeath it to our offspring,” he revealed. Furthermore, the Head of State recommended that those scouts be leaders in promoting social order, hygiene and sanitation.
Beforehand, there had been other speakers including the Commissioner General of Scouting in Burundi, Mr. Philbert Ndayisaba, who said that the clauses resulting from the discussions of that jamboree will contribute to the vision of the Burundian government, that of an emerging country in 2040 and developed in 2060. Note that after Bungere, President Ndayishimiye went to the Nyamugari neighborhood, in the urban center of Gitega where he inaugurated a hotel infrastructure.