Since his inauguration, President Evariste Ndayishimiye has publicly protested against certain files tainted by corruption such as the Mpanda dam. He had given a period of 15 days to the services concerned to start an audit and establish responsibilities. Since then, radio silence. For many observers, his anger only lasts for a dew.

By Fabrice Manirakiza and Rénovat Ndabashinze

“We are currently in a state of law, we are committed to fighting thieves and corrupt people. First, we are not going to abandon the project. Second, the amount pocketed by a group of people must come back. I recommend to the Minister of Energy and Mines to do everything in two weeks to specify the losses and consequently establish the responsibilities of each participant in the project. These are the remarks made by the President of the Republic, very angry, during his visit, last Friday, October 15 to the now famous dam of Mpanda in Musigati commune of the province of Bubanza.

Since this statement-shock, nothing filters. Has President Ndayishimiye received the report? Hard to know. If so, what are the conclusions? Have responsibilities been cleared? In the opinion, several questions after the "anger" of the Burundian number one in front of the microphones and the cameras. When questioned, the head of the office in charge of information, communication and spokesperson for the President of the Republic, Evelyne Butoyi, did not wish to answer.

Ghost dams

As a reminder, the construction project of the Mpanda dam swallowed up about 54 billion BIF. By visiting this "dam", President Ndayishimiye stepped up to the plate. He found houses in poor condition. Cracks on all the walls. Some houses are on the verge of collapsing. The borders of the houses are completely destroyed. Damaged doors. " It's a shame. And I too, as president, am flabbergasted to note that 54 billion has been disbursed without tangible results. It's really a shame. Work on this project began in 2011 and was halted in 2017. It was carried out by the Chinese consortium CNME-CGC.

Another project that has caused a stir is the construction of the Kajeke irrigation dam in Bubanza commune and province. On June 3, 2021, the Head of State raided the site. He found that the construction work was not carried out as it should. It then decided to set up a commission of experts with the task of evaluating this work. In the process, he assured that the culprits will be “brought to justice. Five months later, where are the investigations? Question at 13 billion BIF.

The Kajeke dam was studied at the Council of Ministers on July 3, 2019. According to the report, this development project consists of a dam, a water supply canal and an irrigated perimeter . After its construction, it was supposed to irrigate 1013 hectares in the first phase to subsequently reach 2813 hectares. “Following the poor workmanship observed in the field and the irregularities that characterized the implementation of this project, the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture commissioned an evaluation study of the work carried out. The results of the assessment showed that the constructed dam must be completely destroyed and that a new dam must be built in accordance with the standards and conditions required for the construction of dams.

As for the adduction channel, the study concludes that it was poorly designed and that the work carried out is of very poor quality. “The poor workmanship cannot be repaired, which imposes the decision to abandon it entirely and to carry out a new adduction so that it can meet the objective of the project aimed at the irrigation of 2813 hectares. »

Concerning the irrigated perimeter, it was observed that the works carried out inside the perimeter require the resumption of certain components, in particular the lining of the canals and the completion of the works not carried out.

Three separate tender documents have been drawn up for the construction of the new Kajeke dam, the construction of the conveyance canal and the development of the perimeter to be irrigated. "After discussion and debate, the Council encouraged the Minister to continue the project and asked that those involved in the failure of the first project be brought to justice, and that even for those who are not in the country, international arrest warrants are issued. »

An anecdote. In February 2021, Burundi received aid from Japan consisting of rice. It is more than 5,716.08 T worth 450 million yen or the equivalent of 7 billion BIF. The Burundian government subsequently announced that this rice will be sold so that the amount obtained can be used to save the Kajeke dam...

This project has swallowed more than 13 billion BIF. Three construction companies, ETAMCO, BTCE and BETUCO-PACIFIC had won this contract. Before the senators on March 28, 2018, Déo-Guide Rurema, Minister of Agriculture, declared: “The companies did not have the technical and financial capacities required to carry out the work. “Questions are coming from everywhere. “How did they get the market? Was there no control after all this time? I find that there are many avenues to dig to find out the truth,” notes an observer of Burundian politics.

Humiliated, then promoted

President Ndayishimiye struck a blow, on June 29, 2021, by dismissing in front of the cameras the director general of the Public Transport Office (Otraco), Albert Maniratunga for "non-compliance with the instructions he had given him relating to to the granting of technical control documents by the agencies of Gitega, Ngozi and Bururi of Otraco” It was during his visit to the Otraco agency of Gitega. “As of today, the CEO of Otraco and representatives of the Global Society Technical company are no longer authorized to enter the offices of Otraco. That the DG of the Police takes care of the application of these measures. "And to add:" When someone behaves like a crook and lies, it's outrageous, difficult to understand. We are no longer going to accept this kind of scam, shameless liars when the State is losing in full view of everyone”, concluded the President of the Republic.

In the aftermath, the company Global Society Technical, which had won the market in connection with the production of documents attesting to the “Technical Control”, was suspended. The Head of State criticizes him for not having respected the contract stipulating that 6 months after the launch of the "project to modernize the technical control services and granting of transport permits", the company should be able to issue the biometric technical control document not only from the Otraco headquarters located in Bujumbura Town Hall, but also in Gitega, Ngozi and Bururi.

September 30, 2021: dramatic change. Albert Maniratunga has been appointed Director General of Transport at the Ministry of Commerce. A higher position than the one he held before his very humiliating suspension in front of the cameras. This volte-face of the Burundian number one surprised. In a letter sent to President Ndayishimiye on October 11, Olucome recalls the case of Regideso executives, including Director General Siméon Habonimana, who have been accused of corruption by the highest authorities of the Republic. “A few days later, the said Director General was promoted to a senior position as Director of the Energy, Mining, Infrastructure and Social Housing Development Program at the Presidency of the Republic. »

Olucome wonders: “How is it that people publicly accused by the President of the Republic of corruption, fraud and incompetence find themselves promoted by various presidential decrees in less than 4 months? According to the Observatory, for questions of ethics, morality and law, the integrity of public services has been damaged. “Olucome writes to you in strict compliance with the constitutional principle of accountability of leaders to its population and within the framework of the promotion of transparency and governance in public life. »

>>Reactions

Simon Bizimungu: "The word of the president is like a law"

“Normally, when the President of the Republic says something, publicly, we expect it to be executed, implemented. The word of the president is like a law”, comments Simon Bizimungu, secretary-general of the CNL party. For him, it is shameful to see that after more than two weeks after the announcement of the president of an investigation into the Mpanda dam, nothing filters. “He made a public statement. And the people are waiting for the report of the investigation to be public. Otherwise, there is trouble. »

If this is not the case, MP Bizimungu fears that in the future, people will no longer believe the president's words. “They will take them as jokes. For him, his advisers should help him ensure that his declarations are followed by concrete actions.

Returning to the case of OTRACO, he said he did not understand how a personality declared incompetent, publicly, is subsequently promoted. “It's a contradiction. »Mr. Bizimungu remembers that during the previous legislature, deputies came down to see the progress of public infrastructure works including the Mpanda dam. Unfortunately, he regrets, the report has not been presented. According to him, the CNL party has no hope that the perpetrators of the embezzlement, embezzlement of public funds will one day be known and punished. “Because the big files concern important personalities who seem to be above the law. But no one should be. »

Abdul Kassim: "The President's announcements cannot be empty words"

"We are convinced that the report must have been produced and that responsibilities have been established. The announcements of the President of the Republic cannot be empty words, but rather an orientation of government action", reacts Abdul Kassim, President of the Upd-Zigamibanga Party. For this policy, taxpayers' money must serve the interests of the Republic and the people demand accountability from the managers of this money. The National Assembly, as an institution responsible for overseeing government action, must get involved so that things go in the right direction. According to him, institutions such as the Court of Auditors, the General Inspectorate of State, etc. should be vigilant and be the eye of the Head of State at all times: “They must act before it is not late. »

Gabriel Banzawitonde: “Let the reports of the investigations be public! »

According to Gabriel Banzawitonde, president of the APDR party, if the investigation took place on the embezzlement in the construction of the Mpanda dam, the report must be made public. “Even the announcement was made publicly. "Ditto for all the other cases of corruption, embezzlement, ... mentioned by the President of the Republic: "Given the will of the President of the Republic, we have the hope that the embezzled money will return to the state coffers. . »

Insisting on the Mpanda case, Mr. Banzawitonde thinks that those concerned have already produced a report. The APDR party remains hopeful that one day, the perpetrators of these embezzlements will be known and punished.

Mr. Banzawitonde congratulates the President of the Republic for his determination to fight against corruption. “But let it happen transparently,” he slips.

Kefa Nibizi: “There are double standards in the processing of files”

According to Kefa Nibizi, President of the Council for Democracy and Sustainable Development in Burundi (Codebu-Iragi rya Ndadaye), when the President of the Republic announces an investigation into such and such a file, it is not obligatory that the report is public.” Which means it may or may not have been produced. There, I do not want to make too many comments. Only, recognizes this politician, there are institutions or commissions such as the anti-corruption brigade, the Court of Auditors, the General State Inspectorate which should deal with cases of embezzlement, embezzlement of public funds.

Mr. Nibizi indicates that there is a problem in the processing of these files. “Lately, in Gitega, there are people who have been accused of fuel fraud, and very quickly they were punished. Why is this speed not observed in these large embezzlement cases? For him, even the National Assembly should summon those who were responsible for managing these dam construction projects to explain themselves.

Gabriel Rufyiri: "At this rate, the President's speeches risk being considered as scarecrows"

Mpanda dam, Kajeke dam, Otraco, justice, Onatel, etc., President Evariste Ndayishimiye rose up in public against these files and demanded explanations. Gabriel Rufyiri, president of the Observatory for the fight against corruption and economic embezzlement (Olucome) finds that it is dangerous for the presidential institution if its public injunctions are not followed by concrete acts.

Recently, President Evariste Ndayishimiye gave a deadline of 15 days to clear the responsibilities for the fiasco of the Mpanda dam. Five weeks later, we are still awaiting the conclusions. Your comment ?

This case of 54 billion BIF is one among many others. Despite the ultimatum, public opinion has not yet heard of a process that has already begun. It has become almost normal, but it is very dangerous for the president himself, for Burundians and for the presidential institution.

How ?

For example, during a religious retreat in Ngozi on August 23, 2020, the President of the Republic asked, apart from the fact that it is a constitutional requirement, that all public officials declare their assets before taking office. A year later, despite this watchword from the president, no authority has done so. Whether it was those who were in power or those who came to power. This amply shows that our leaders have a big problem in terms of respecting the law and keeping their word. Their messages are given in public, but unfortunately people don't dare to criticize openly.

Regarding the Kajeke dam, the president had given two weeks to establish responsibilities. Five months later, nothing. You remember when he publicly attacked the Kayanza prosecutor, but she's still there. Remember what he said to the leaders of Regideso and Onatel. Those who were not promoted kept their places.

What are the consequences ?

Frankly, we don't know what game we're in. We are witnessing a match without qualifying. It is very difficult to understand what is happening Governance in Burundi is in danger. But also, the public authority is in danger because it would be very difficult to believe the speeches and the messages of the leaders. When the President of the Republic gives injunctions in public and no action is taken, public authority is weakened. At this rate, in the future, the president's speeches risk being considered as scarecrows. However, the speech of the Head of State must be respected. It must be like a law in order to protect the presidential institution.

What should the President of the Republic do for his statements to have an impact?

In my humble opinion, the President of the Republic is driven by good faith. With that, he must get rid of all his lieutenants who are prowling around him and blocking his progress. He must place by his side competent men and women capable of advising him well. May his decisions be respected. At all costs otherwise it is dangerous for the Nation, because the files have become numerous. As the parliament and other institutions are almost non-existent, it must give the green light to justice, especially on these files of embezzlement and corruption, to track down these corrupt. In addition, we must authorize the media, civil society to say what is not working. Today this is not possible because people are afraid of reprisals.

What about control and investigation institutions?

The control institutions are numerous: the General Inspectorate of the State which reports directly to the presidency, the Court of Auditors, the parliamentary committees which can carry out investigations, the ombudsman who can carry out investigations independently, the CNIDH , the Attorney General of the Republic, the Special Anti-Corruption Brigade, … Unfortunately, they are scarecrows.

Can you explain more?

It is not normal that the Head of State can rebel in this way and that these institutions remain with their hands crossed, without telling the population anything about what is being done. And yet, they function thanks to the taxes of the citizens. These institutions need to wake up to do their job, because they are stealing from poor Burundian citizens.

Perhaps the laws are lacking in the fight against corruption?

But if the laws are incomplete, the problem is not at this level. If our leaders had the slightest respect for the law, they would at least respect the existing provisions, for example the declaration of their assets. It is necessary first of all to apply the existing laws and then to correct the shortcomings. We have men and women who are not aware of their main mission: to serve the population. But all of this rests on the shoulders of the head of state. It is up to him to do everything so that these thieves of the Republic are brought to justice.

A message for the President of the Republic?

If the president does not manage to get rid of all these individuals who do not want things to go the right way, he will be put in the same bag as these corrupt people. He still has the confidence of the Burundian people. He must take advantage of it. We want it to remain acceptable. For citizens to continue to have confidence in him, he must guarantee their rights. Currently, this is not the case. If there is no will and courage, we will always listen to speeches that will remain a dead letter, with no effect on the lives of Burundian citizens and the country.