SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF AUGUST 16, 2023

 In the year two thousand and twenty-three, on the sixteenth day of August, senators met in the hemicycle of the Senate for the 150^th plenary session of the sixth legislature for the oral question with debate addressed to the Ministers having respectively Home Affairs, trade and finance in their responsibilities.

The session was chaired by the Right Honourable Speaker of the Senate, Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA. This session which saw the participation of 32 senators and three representatives of the Government namely Mr. Martin NINTERETSE, Mrs. Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE and Mr. Audace NIYONZIMA began, as usual, with a prayer at 9 a.m.

Opening the session, the Speaker of the Senate first welcomed the Honourable senators present. Then, after a word of welcome to the three ministers, the floor was granted to them to answer the questions prepared for them and those of the senators in the general debate.

To the question as to why the prices of products such as BUCECO cement, SOSUMO sugar and BRARUDI drinks were increased by more than 30% at a time when the latter are rare even on the market, the Minister Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE responded that these prices were revised upwards taking into account their cost of production at the factory which increased following the trade imbalance between import and export in our country.

Regarding the lack of sugar on the market despite its liberalization, the Minister of Commerce indicated that it is the import currency which is lacking.

As for the measure to increase the rental amount of public market shops, the Honorable Senators wanted to know the motivations for taking this measure. To this concern of the elected representatives of the people, Minister Audace NIYONZIMA indicated that for some time, the Government has noted that there is a group of people who have monopolized all the shops in the markets and who are renting them out to traders. After the investigation, the Government took the decision to reallocate these shops to people who actually operate the trade and make them pay the amount close to the amount they gave as rental to these former buyers, he added.

When asked if there will be reimbursement to former buyers of the costs used for the construction of shops in the different markets of the country, Minister Martin NINTERETSE replied that the urgency consisted first of putting things in order  in the markets to restore the State to its rights. For refund claims, the law will be questioned.

Regarding speculation on BRARUDI products and sugar throughout the country, the Minister responsible for Home Affairs indicated that prices are generally respected except in some areas of the country which are remote from the depots which are having difficulty obtaining supplies, a reason is why the Minister notes that it is desirable to increase the profit margin in these localities.

To the question as to when the digital machines which will be used to maximize the collection of revenue from taxpayers will be available, the Minister of Finance replied that a quantity of 35,000 machines is already in operation, adding that another part is on order and other orders will be made gradually.

Regarding the financial inclusion rate achieved here in Burundi, the Minister of Finance said that we are at 48% for the moment.

Concerning the online request for travel documents which seems to be difficult for some to access, as well as the appointments given to people which seem to be too long, the Interior Minister responded that applicants for these documents must get used to it, given that the establishment of this mechanism was intended to limit physical contact between the latter and the police to avoid cheating and cases of corruption which have been observed.

To the question of what the Ministry of Commerce is doing to preserve the population’s harvest, Minister Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE responded that the National Agency for Food Security Stock Management (ANAGESA) is at the service and that the harvest collected is resold at a price close to the purchase price.

After all these clarifications, senators issued some recommendations to the Government:

1. Set up a commission responsible for identifying the people who built the shops in the different markets of the country on their own funds to proceed with the reimbursement, once these would be granted to other people;

• Correct the irregularities observed in the allocation of places in the various public markets in the country;

• Set up a commission responsible for studying the modalities of revising upwards the profit margin of retailers of Brarudi products in the areas remote from supply depots, therefore, located more than 50 km away;

• Collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi (CCIB) to facilitate imports in this period of currency deficiency;

• Give written correspondence to accompany the messages often sent to local government authorities via social networks;

• Set the price of the transport ticket for Probox-type vehicles according to the route taken;

• Leave the free choice to retailers to obtain supplies of Brarudi products and the drinks of their preference from depots;

• Closely monitor the factories producing excessively alcoholic beverages to prevent the health of consumers;

• Set the price of school materials taking into account the cost to the producer;

1. Allocate places in public markets by granting only one place to each person;

1. Strictly supervise the agents responsible for monitoring the sanitation of public places (bars, restaurants and tourist sites);

1. Set up bus stops that meet standards;

1. Set up a control operations centre for road traffic monitoring;

1. Prevent the nocturnal uproar observed in the various neighbourhoods and city centres;

1. Rehabilitate and multiply tourist sites to attract tourists and investors in this area;

1. Closely monitor the case of the embezzlement of 15 tons of SOSUMO sugar in the commune of Mukaza;

1. Review the purchase price of a kilogram of meat and set it according to the supply regions.

The session, which took place in a climate of perfect understanding, ended at 6:15 p.m.