Revealed: Key takeaways from Burundi Government’s 2020-2021 Action Plan
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol III, Issue #141 | Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Dear RegionWeek Reader,
This Thursday, Burundi Prime Minister presented to the members of parliament and senators, the annual action plan of the Burundi Government for the fiscal year 2020-2021. The event was broadcasted live on Burundi national Television, RTNB.
The Government's Action Plan contains the flagship actions that the Ministries have planned to execute for the 2020-2021 budget year. In today’s newsletter, let us explore some of the key actions that caught our attention.
Crime prevention and justice efficiency, the priority
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Community Development, and Public Security plans to intensify crime prevention operations and to periodically communicate on achievements. Particular attention will be given to raising awareness among refugees for voluntary return.
The Ministry of Justice plans to carry out inspections of the judicial services to improve and make justice efficient and more accessible in Burundi. This will be achieved by Revising the law on the Superior Council of the Magistracy to combat corruption, bribery, and impunity. There are also plans to unclog prisons by applying alternative penalties to imprisonment and to speed up the processing of cases. The plan mentioned a building project to host the Ministry of Justice in Gitega Capital city.
A one-stop-shop for all Government partners
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation plans to set up a one-stop-shop for the management of all relations between the Government of the Republic of Burundi and foreign non-governmental organizations.
Particular attention will be on obtaining the resumption of direct cooperation with countries and organizations that have suspended direct cooperation with Burundi. The plan emphasizes removing Burundi from the agenda of the United Nations Security Council,
The plan mentions also the initiative to put in place a legal framework governing that governs Burundian migrant workers abroad.
The main actions of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning will be to closely monitor projects funded by the State and those funded by technical partners.
A particular focus will be on monitoring the management and use of the State's assets and ensure that profits generated go into the public treasury.
Research on local development and mutualization of health workers
The Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research plans to launch the Rundi Academy and will favor research geared towards local development. The plan mentions the operationalization of the East African Nutritional Sciences Institute (EANSI) with the support of the African Development Bank.
The Ministry of Health plans to regulate office hours for Doctors working in public hospitals but who have private practices, restore the image of hospital services. The plan mentions the intention to deploy specialist Doctors for 2 months to support hospitals in the countryside.
Energy, Prices, and Integration
The Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy, and Mines plan to develop the hydropower plants of Kabu16, Ruzibazi, Mpanda, increase water and electricity subscribers, increase drinking water in the towns of Gitega, Kayanza, Mutimbuzi.
Actions to be carried out by the Ministry of Trade, Transport, Industry, and Tourism include monitoring the evolution of prices and stocks of strategic products and follow up on the merger procedures of SOBUGEA and Air Burundi. The Ministry of agriculture plans to build up a food security stock, increase the production of export crops.
The ministry in charge of the East African Community, Youth, Sports, and Culture intends to provide first job internships to young graduates without experience and to continue negotiations for the introduction of French as the working language of the East Africa Community.
Bottom line
The analysis of the action plan content reveals a strong desire from the Burundi Government to monitor all the action and their impact on the life of Burundian. But Commentators find that the plan is too ambitious to be real and doubt its implementation. On the other side, It would be interesting to know how much resources will be available for every action included in the plan.
(For more information on action to be taken by the government please click on the links)
Thanks for reading
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
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