SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF JUNE 21, 2024

In the year two thousand and twenty-four, on the twenty-first day of June, senators gathered in the Senate hemicycle in Gitega for the 197^th plenary session of the sixth legislature. That session was led by Right Honourable Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, Senate Speaker. It aimed about  analysing and adopting the bill establishing the general State budget for the financial year 2024-2025.

This session, which was marked by the presence of 35 senators and a Government Representative, Mr. Audace NIYONZIMA, Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, began as usual, with a prayer at 9:55 a.m.

Opening the session, the Senate Speaker first welcomed the Honourable senators and, subsequently, after welcoming the guest, he gave him the floor to present the preamble of the draft bill under analysis.

In his presentation, the Government Representative indicated that this finance bill determines for the financial year 2024/2025 the nature, amount and allocation of State resources and charges as well as the resulting budgetary and financial balance. The preparation of this bill was inspired by the Vision document “Burundi, an emerging country by 2040” and provides for an increase in revenue of 30% compared to the previous year.

After the preamble and the presentation of the report of the responsible committee, the floor was given to the Honourable senators so that they could express themselves in the general debate and ask questions for clarification.

To the question of the assurances that the collection of planned revenues will be achieved given that the forecast has increased compared to that of the previous year, Audace NIYONZIMA replied that the assurances are at two levels:

• the broadening of the tax base compared to the current year;
• the vigilance measures put in place at the OBR level;

the collection level reached until May of the financial year 2023-2024 , which is 97%.

Regarding whether the amount planned as reimbursement of the State’s debt to its jobs constitutes all of the arrears, Audace NIYONZIMA responded in the affirmative. He specifies that this amount constitutes the 60% arrears which were not yet paid.

Regarding the indignation of senators in relation to the long procedures for awarding public contracts which are often the cause of the non-disbursement of funds in favour of development projects, the Minister responded that the code of public procurement is being reviewed to remove deficiencies. However, he explains that apart from the shortcomings contained in the code, there is above all the failure of those responsible for public procurement in the different sectors who do not respect the procedural rules of substance and form required during the preparation of documents. .

When questioned by senators about the maintenance costs of the presidential plane which comes up several times in the budget law, the response was that this plane has not yet been repaired, therefore, the Government must still pay maintenance costs.

Regarding the operating costs of certain ministries which have increased exponentially, in particular the Ministry of Public Health, the Government representative responded that the latter will recruit staff, increase the salaries of doctors and pay remoteness allowances with the aim of encouraging and stabilizing its staff.   

After the Minister’s responses, the bill was put to a vote and was adopted unanimously by the 39 voting senators, including 35 present and 4 proxies.

The session, which took place in a climate of perfect understanding, was closed at 2:01 p.m.