SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF JUNE 19, 2023

The year two thousand and twenty-three, on the nineteenth day of June, the senators met in the hemicycle of the Senate in Gitega for the 141^st plenary session of the sixth legislature to analyze and adopt the bill on fixing of the general State budget for the 2023-2024 financial year.

The session was chaired by Right Honourable Speaker of the Senate, Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA. This session, which saw the participation of 35 senators and a Government Representative, namely the Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Audace NIYONZIMA, began, as usual, with a prayer at 10:33 minutes.

By way of introduction, the Senate Speaker first welcomed the Honourable senators and then, after a word of welcome addressed to the distinguished guest of the day, the opportunity was given to him immediately to present the preamble of the bill under analysis.

In his presentation, the Minister indicated that the bill under analysis is part of the continued implementation of reforms in the management of public finances aimed at shifting from the budget of means to the budget in programme mode.

Continuing the explanations, the Minister said the preparation of this bill was inspired by the draft document “Burundi Vision emerging country in 2040 and Developed country in 2060″ which is identified in five closely linked pillars, namely: state commitment, economic efficiency, social equity, tolerable ecology and fruitful partnership.

Thus, the development planning tools including the PND/PAP, the sectoral strategies currently being revised should be aligned with this new vision.

Taking into account the climate of confidence at the level of cooperation with development partners, the 2023-2024 draft budget is prepared in a context marked by Burundi’s commitment to a macroeconomic reform programme supported by an expanded credit facility and this programme should translate into increased mobilization of external resources to support the Government’s efforts to stabilize the macroeconomic framework and trigger economic recovery, he concluded.

At the end of the presentation and the presentation of the report of the Referred committee, the floor was given to the senators to ask questions of clarification.

When asked whether there would be a delay in the disbursement of the programme budget as we used to observe, the Minister reassured the elected representatives of the people by saying that this situation will not happen again since all the application ordinances have been drawn up in parallel with the bill. As soon as the law is promulgated, the ordinances will be signed and executed, specifies Audace NIYONZIMA.

Regarding the question related to the collection of revenue based on electronic machines, the wish of senators being to make these machines available to all taxpayers, Audace NOYONZIMA explained that this is the beginning and that we preferred starting with large taxpayers.

Regarding the financing of the budget deficit, the Representative of the Government has clearly explained. The financing of the deficit always comes from internal and external indebtedness.

Regarding the release of annals for parastatal and personalized institutions of the State as well as the harmonized pension for retirees, Audace NIYONZIMA replied that we are waiting for the implementing decrees which will soon be released, which will determine the terms of granting.

As for the the concerns raised by the representatives of the people on the methods of levying the wealth tax for buildings, the Minister explained that this tax will be levied in the event of the sale of the building.

After these clarifications, the bill was put to the vote and adopted unanimously by the 39 voting senators, including 34 present and 5 proxies.

Regarding communications, the Speaker of the Senate announced that a modification of the activities for the period from June 13 to 30, 2023 is planned to include the prayer activity which begins on Wednesday June 21, 2023.

The session, which took place in a climate of perfect harmony, was closed at 3:03 p.m. with a prayer.