Burundian politicians concerned about ID delivery before referendum vote

Abel Gashatsi, Chairman of UPRONA party says it is not easy to have an identification card following the increase in its price. “Our followers complained that they must pay an amount estimated between BIF 6,000 and BIF 10,000 to have an ID instead of BIF 500. Local administrative officials require more documents and contributions to grant the ID,” says Gashatsi, in the meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and leaders of political parties grouped in the forum of political parties.

Participants in the meeting were from political parties recognized by the government

He says the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Independent Electoral Commission must closely follow the issue to facilitate the delivery of such a document. “We are in a crucial period during which Burundians must register to participate in the upcoming elections. They must have IDs at low cost as they currently live in grinding poverty,” he says.

The Assistant to the Minister of Home Affairs, Térence Ntahiraja, says he recognizes that some local administrative officials require either more documents or money while the cost of the ID is known. “An ID costs BIF 500 for everyone who meets the criteria to have it. Administrative officials are requested to facilitate the task as each 16-year-old Burundian must have the ID to participate in the 2020 elections,” he says.

Mr Ntahiraja appeals to all Burundians not to wait for the elections to have the ID. Administrative officials are also called on to make sure the official price for the ID is respected.

As for some political leaders who have raised their concerns about the new provisions included in the draft constitution during the meeting, the Assistant to the Minister of Home Affairs has said their suggestions and comments will not be considered given that the draft constitution must be amended. “We have already collected different opinions and ideas from the population. We will no longer consider any comment aiming at changing any article in the draft constitution except the one regarding the form”, he says.

According to him, the meeting aims at explaining the innovations in the draft Constitution which contains 292 articles instead of 307 of the current constitution. Political leaders will have two weeks to persuade their followers to vote “yes” or “no” in the referendum scheduled for May 2018.