SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF FEBRUARY 14, 2023

The year two thousand and twenty-three, on the fourteenth day of February, senators met in the hemicycle of the Senate for the 123^rd  plenary session of the sixth legislature, to debate an oral question addressed to the Minister of Interior, Community Development and Public Security, under the chairmanship of the Right Honourable Speaker of the Senate, Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA.

This session, which was attended by 35 senators, also benefited from the presence of a Government Representative, Mr. Martin NITERETSE, Minister of Home Affairs, Community Development and Public Security. The session began, as usual, with a prayer at 10:54 a.m.

Opening the session, the Senate Speaker first welcomed the senators and the representative of the Government and then invited the latter to answer the question addressed to him.

After the Minister’s answers and before giving the floor to the people representatives to ask questions for the general debate, the Chairman of the session thanked the Minister for the clear and precise answers he had just given and which demonstrate the will of the Government to find lasting solutions to the concerns of the population for their well-being.

To the question to know whether the measure to suspend polygamous administrative officers from the administration has been effective, the Minister replied in the affirmative, at least in the sector entrusted to him. He also asked the people representatives to denounce such cases if they know of them.

To the proposal of the senators to add in the programme of fundamental school education, courses relating to the road traffic code, Mr. Martin NITERETSE replied that it is a good proposal. He promised to discuss it with his counterpart having National Education in his attributions.

Regarding the lack of offices for village chiefs in some localities, the Government Representative indicated that these offices will be built soon and even extensions where necessary.

Regarding the sanctions taken against the sellers of BRARUDI products when they have sales authorizations at a higher price, the Minister was clear: the measure to cancel these authorizations has already been taken, basing on well-verified irregularities that had been committed.

Regarding the question related to the absence of traffic signs on the roads, Mr. Martin NITERETSE replied that a discussion has already begun with the Mayor of Bujumbura city for their installation.

At the wish of senators to require the installation of speed bumps according to standard norms to avoid accidents and damage to vehicles, the Government Representative indicated that a change in this direction is envisaged in the coming days, without forgetting the warning signs which precede the speed bumps.

To the question relating to the vehicles’ drivers passing or receiving telephone calls while driving, the Minister replied that the surveillance cameras found on certain roads record such cases of violation of the highway code and penalties follow. In the coming days, software that will allow the connection of these cameras with a recording center will be functional and we will no longer need to send the police on the roads, he added.

As for the question to know the progress of the file about former administrators in retirement like the governors of provinces and communal administrators who found themselves without contribution to the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) or to the National Office of pensions and Occupational Risks (ONPR) so that they should be restored to their rights, Martin NITERETSE reassured the people representatives; this case is on the discussion table at the level of these two institutions as well as at the Civil Service Mutual Fund; a favourable outcome is therefore in sight.

The session ended in a climate of perfect understanding with a prayer at 3:32 p.m.