BUJUMBURA October 14th (ABP) – The Cabinet met on Friday October 7, 2022 in Gitega, under the chairmanship of the Head of State. First meeting of the Cabinet meeting since the reshuffle carried out by the President of the Republic, Evariste Ndayishimiye.
According to the press release released on Saturday, October 8 by the General Secretariat and government spokesperson, the President of the Republic wished full success to the new team led by the Prime Minister, Gervais Ndirakobuca and called on them to work in synergy because “Together, anything is possible “.
According to that press release, 7 points were on the agenda, including the note on the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the Cabinet meeting on October 3. The note related to the problem of the marketing of BRARUDI, SOSUMO and BUCECO products, following multiple attempts to raise the prices of certain products, and to the shortage and speculation surrounding those products.
The Cabinet meeting found that for all three products, the demand is far greater than the supply. Also noting that given the production capacities of these companies, it is not clear that these products are available even after the price increase. Through the analysis of this note, the Cabinet meeting has thus noted that these products remain rare despite the liberalization, since September 6, of the import of cement and sugar.
After analyzing that note, the Cabinet meeting asked the Minister in charge of Trade to take into account the reality of the market and to readjust the prices of BRARUDI beverages and BUCECO cement. By ensuring that there is not “a great impact on the prices of products consumed by people with little means”.
As for the sugar produced by SOSUMO, the Cabinet meeting recommended that it should be brought into production. Noting that its current trend is to import and market sugar cheaper than that which it produces. The Cabinet meeting recommended modernizing SOSUMO, while continuing to liberalize the import of sugar, according to the press release.
The Cabinet meeting also considered the draft law amending the law of July 9, 1996 on the organization and operation of the Notariat as well as the status of Notary. Noting that since the promulgation of this law, there have been socio-economic, political and security changes, it was necessary to adapt this profession to the new changes, according to the press release. After analysis, the Cabinet meeting adopted this project and recommended, among other things: bringing the swearing in of notaries to the Supreme Court; increase to 10 instead of the proposed 5 years, the number of years of experience required to become a notary for Magistrates and Lawyers and to create a Department of Notarial Law at the University of Burundi.
The Cabinet meeting also analyzed a Note on the implementation of the fair wage policy within the body of justice. After discussions and debates, the Cabinet meeting recommended, among other things, that the issue should be addressed in a comprehensive way for all structures with special statutes provided for by the Constitution and by the law governing Burundian public administration. Proposing to ensure that there are no wage disparities, while calculating the impact of this reform as well as the budget linked to the retirement pension to have an overall idea of the State’s capacity to support that load.
In that regard, the Cabinet meeting has opted for the establishment of a commission by the decree of the Prime Minister which will be coordinated at the level of the Prime Minister to support the implementation of the salary policy in institutions with special statutes. The Cabinet meeting has recommended that this commission immediately get to work to complete it as quickly as possible.
This commission will be composed of representatives of the ministers of: the interior, justice, defence, public health, public service finance and identified experts, according to the said press release.