BUBANZA March 13th (ABP) – The natives and friends of Bubanza province (north-west) met in Muzinda, Rugazi commune, on Saturday March 9, under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Pascal Nyabenda (native of that province), to discuss the achievements of 2018, the outlook for 2019 and the establishment of the association of natives, a check by ABP revealed. Among the 2018 achievements, the governor of Bubanza province, Mr. Nobus Thérence Butoyi, spoke among others about the construction of the modern stadium (in progress), markets in the communes, rice storage sheds, bridges, youth centers, schools and playgrounds. He also spoke about the rehabilitation of the tracks, the electrification, the distribution of the selected seeds and the small cattle, the reforestation as part of the “Ewe Burundi urambaye” program, the drinking water supply, the financial support of cooperatives to people, nursery development and school equipment. Concerning this year 2019, Governor Butoyi indicates that the province plans to focus efforts in the education sector to increase the success rate and quality of education. The same province is also planning urbanization, strengthening hygiene and improving housing at the trading centers, at the provincial headquarters, in Gihanga, in Musenyi and Muzinda. Other projects include the continuation of reforestation under the “Ewe Burundi urambaye” national program, support in the distribution of subsidized chemical fertilizers and close monitoring of the palm plantation which tends to replace food crops, he continues to say. The natives of that province have set up an association known as the “Association for the Development of Bubanza Province (ADEBU)”, with the Minister of Hydraulics, the Energy and Mines, Mr. Côme Manirakiza, as Leader. The latter promises to give his all for the huge contribution of the association in the development of the province and asks the natives to support the association in expertise. As for the Speaker of the National Assembly and native of the Bubanza province, Mr. Pascal Nyabenda, he invited the natives and friends of the province to overcome all that differentiates them to appropriate the development of the province.

NGOZI March 13th (ABP) – Burundi Repatriated Women’s Association (AFRABU) has organized a regional forum in Ngozi (North) to share experiences among women parliamentarians, grassroots elected women and women leaders of civil society organizations to adopt strategies to promote the participation of Burundi women in the electoral process and the building of peace and security.

Ms. Marie Concessa Barubike, AFRABU coordinator and head of the lobbying and advocacy project, says that women must take the lead, show what they are capable of doing, make their visibility to promote their participation and their role in the 2020 elections, and participate actively to keep and build peace in Burundi.

That organization, which wants to be a leader in the economic promotion and social reintegration of women, intends to make every effort to affirm the role and place of women in sustainable development, since women are numerous in the country and must, as a result, be so numerous in the electoral decision-making positions.

That forum organized during the International Women’s Month is a kind of advocacy to increase their score in the important places, after the 2020 elections.

The reality of the moment is that women remain very few in the electoral positions, despite their high number in the population. Thus, they occupy only 6% at the national level in the electoral positions at the village level. In the north of the country, scores remain very low. In Ngozi, women village leaders amount to 19 out of 229 men. In Kayanza, there are 20 women out of 235 men, 19 out of 221 in Muyinga and 7 out of 186 in Kirundo.

Note that this two-day forum has brought together the northern provinces of the country, namely Ngozi, Kayanza, Kirundo and Muyinga. Such forums are also planned in Gitega for the central-eastern region, in Rutana for the south and Bujumbura City Council for the west of the country.