SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EMMANUEL SINZOHAGERA, SPEAKER OF THE SENATE OF BURUNDI, AT THE OPENING OF THE ORDINARY PARLIAMENTARY SESSION OF DECEMBER 2024,   

Honourable First Deputy Speaker of the Senate;

Honourable Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate;

Honourable senators;

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Government here present;

Mr. Governor of the Province Gitega;

Your Excellencies Ambassadors and Representatives of Diplomatic and Consular Corps accredited to Burundi;

Dear Representatives of International Organizations in Burundi;

Dear Representatives of the judicial authorities;

Mr. Administrator of the Gitega Commune;

Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the Defense and Security Corps;

Dear Senate, Senate Executives;

Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the various services working in the administrative capital;  

Dear representatives of the media;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. First of all, I want to express my deep gratitude to Almighty God for protecting us until this exceptional day when you have responded to our invitation. I invite each of you, according to your faith, to join us in giving Him thanks with a loud acclamation.

2. Welcome and let us take this opportunity to thank you for putting aside your multiple occupations to come and join us during these opening ceremonies of the ordinary session of December 2024. Your participation in our activities strengthens us as it demonstrates your support and reminds us that we are not alone. In turn, we promise you that we will always work selflessly so as not to betray your trust.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

3. In accordance with Article 190 of the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi, we resume activities after a month of parliamentary recess during which the Honorable Senators visited their respective constituencies.

4. During this period, all the Honorable senators joined the population to carry out various activities and collect the people’s concerns in order to address them to the competent authority to find sustainable solutions. We take this opportunity to congratulate you for having accomplished your work with excellence.

5. We take this opportunity to warmly thank a group of senators who visited the provinces of Muyinga, Kirundo, Cibitoke, Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Rumonge and Makamba, from November 18 to 22, 2024. During thes visits, they spoke with security agents as well as administrative authorities of these provinces to raise awareness about strengthening security during this pre-election period.

6. It is worth mentioning that another group of senators visited the provinces of Kayanza and Kirundo from November 12 to 15, 2024, to engage with young girls on the issue of preventing unwanted pregnancies. We sincerely hope that the advice given will help them to be prudent and vigilant as the majority of them are victims of their ignorance since those who do not know learn from their mistakes.

Honorable senators;

Distinguished Guests; 

7. During the parliamentary recess, we, members of the Senate Bureau, also made visits to the provinces of Bujumbura, Karusi, Cibitoke, Rutana, and Mwaro. In those provinces, we either went to join the population in community development work or to learn about the living conditions of the people and their daily activities aimed at self-development.”

8. Concerning the missions we carried out abroad, the Senate Speaker participated in 18^th meeting of the Bureau of the Parliaments Speakers of the East African Community, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 13, 2024.

9. During this meeting, we participated in the establishment of the new Bureau and submitted some of the issues facing the Community, particularly the ongoing conflicts in some member countries. We also discussed the consequences of climate change, natural disasters, and the official languages of the Community, given that some countries want French and Kiswahili be used alongside English.

• We also discussed about the preparations for the inter-parliamentary games, scheduled for December 6 to 18 this year in Mombasa, Kenya.

• We also had the opportunity to address the wish that member countries of the Community with arrears contributions be allowed to pay them in Tanzanian shillings. Furthermore, it was agreed that Burundi will host the 19^th edition of the meeting of the Parliaments Speakers of the East African Community in November 2025 and will host the inter parliamentary games the same year.

• It is with great joy that we come together for these ceremonies, as our requests presented during the 18^th meeting of the Bureau of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the EAC have been positively received by the Heads of State of the member countries. Consequently, it has been agreed that the member countries of the East African Community will now pay their contributions in local currency, with Burundi paying its contributions in Burundian francs. Additionally, a decision was made to use French and Kiswahili within the EAC while we await amendments to the governing texts of the Community.

• We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic, who, upon learning of our wishes expressed during the 18^th meeting of the Bureau of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the EAC, diligently monitored this matter until its resolution. On behalf of the Senate, we congratulate him and pray that God guides him in all his endeavors.

• In the cooperation domain, the Senate Speaker participated in the International Conference of Friendly Cities of China (CPAFFC). This conference took place in Kunming, Yunnan Province, from November 17 to 20, under the theme: ‘Common Prosperity, Shared Future.’ 

• This mission was an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between our respective countries as we met with the various administrative authorities and discussed the twinning of some provinces of China with the five current provinces of Burundi.

• On the other hand, on November 14, the Second Deputy Speaker of Senate, participated in the inter-parliamentary meeting held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, on 16 and 17 November 2024.

• The participants in this meeting organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the National Assembly of Azerbaijan discussed the challenges related to climate change in order to find sustainable solutions. They also emphasized the importance of developed countries honoring their commitment to provide funding to support developing countries in their fight against climate change.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests;

• We would like to inform you that during the recess we have just completed, the Honorable Senators met in an extraordinary session on November 11, 2024, in accordance with Article 192 of the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi. During that session, they approved the candidate for the presidency of the Supreme Court as well as other magistrates proposed for appointments to various judicial positions.

• Concerning the participation in national celebrations, the Right Honourable Senate Speaker, together with his Deputy Speakers, joined other personalities of the country in the ceremonies of the official launch of the peace torch caravan, 18^th edition, organized by the President of the Republic of Burundi, under the theme: “Burundians, let us vote for the leaders who will guide us towards the achievement of the Vision of an emerging Burundi by 2040, and a developed by 2060.” These ceremonies took place at Urunani stadium, Buganda Commune in Cibitoke province, on November 9, 2024. In addition, members of the Senate Bureau as well as the Honorable senators joined the population of their respective provinces during the ceremonies to welcome the torch of peace, and during the community work carried out at that time. It is also necessary to inform you that we also participated in the closing ceremonies of the peace torch caravan which took place at Gatwaro Stadium in Kayanza province, on 30 November 2024.

• In a spirit of solidarity and in accordance with the saying that a friend in need is a friend indeed, the Second Deputy-Speaker of the Senate, on November 7, 2024, officially handed over an aid of 250 metal sheets to 12 vulnerable families at Bukemba commune, in Rutana province.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• We have just finished the parliamentary recess, and without any doubt, we come back full of new energy to serve the country and represent our electorate. Obviously, you realized that there are so many issues that need to be resolved as soon as possible. So let us get to work right after the opening of this session because “morning work is worth gold“.

• In addition to other constitutional missions that we will accomplish during this ordinary session of December 2024, we would like to inform you that the Senate will analyze 8 bills sent by the Government of the Republic of Burundi. These bills read as follows:
• Bill amending the Law No. 1/09 of 13 November 2020 on general organization of the public administration;

• Bill on the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing;

• Bill on ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the East African Community Protocol related to Information and Communication Technology Networks signed on 23 August 2013 in Kigali;

• Bill on ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (1970 Hague Convention);

• Bill on ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the general cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the Republic of Burundi, signed in Lusaka on 14 June 2024;

• Bill on ratification of the framework cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Chad and the Government of the Republic of Burundi;

• Bill on ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the Republic of Burundi, signed in Lusaka on 14 June 2024;

• Bill on revision of law no. 1/02 March 2016 on the reform of communal taxation in Burundi.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• We cannot conclude our remarks without reminding the Honorable Senators that we were elected to represent the population for a term of five years. Therefore, we must not be discouraged simply because we are already in the last year of our mandate. On the contrary, we must double our efforts and work with determination, for ‘the end of a matter is better than its beginning.’ 

• During this pre-election period, let us continue to sensitize the population not to be distracted by the elections, to safeguard peace and security and to remain committed to work because after the elections, life goes on. Therefore, let us be aware that our mission is not limited to the passing of bills, but that we must also remain close to those who mandated us to represent them because it is themselves who evaluate us.

• We must also pay attention to the fact that we, Burundians, are called upon to elect leaders who will guide us towards the achievement of the Vision of an emerging Burundi by 2040 and a developed one by 2060. This vision can only be achieved if all Burundians commit to working. Let us work hard to support Burundi vision. May each one of us conduct a self-assessment to determine if we are effectively contributing to the realization of this vision.

• To conclude, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Best Wishes. May 2025 bring you health and prosperity. May divine blessings illuminate your home and family throughout this year.

With these words, we solemnly declare the opening of the ordinary parliamentary session of December 2024.

Thank you:

May God bless you!