After the suspension for one month of all companies and cooperatives that extract and sell minerals in Burundi by the National Security council from 1 October, gold washers from Mabayi Commune in Cibitoke western province say the measure has a negative impact on their lives.
Gold washers from Mabayi Commune plead for the resumption of activities
N.S, one of the gold washers from Butahana hill in Mabayi commune says he doesn’t understand why the government suspended their activities while they work in accordance with the law. “We pay regularly our cooperatives,” he says adding that they will become thieves if the decision is not suspended. “We spend all the time idling. How will we survive as we don’t even have arable lands?” he says.
Another gold washer says the government should identify those cooperatives and companies which don’t work in accordance with the law and adjust them. “We should not be victimized while we have not made any mistake,” he says. He calls on Burundi government to find a solution to that problem as soon as possible.
Albert Nemeyimana, Butahana hill chief in Mabayi Commune, says those gold washers must respect the decision of the National Security Council which “was made for their security.” They must wait for one month to resume their activities, he says.
Silas Ntigurirwa, Permanent Secretary of the National Security Council has said most of those cooperatives and companies are involved in fraud and violate the law”. This deadline will help restore order and respect for the law in this sector,” he said.
The National Security Council also urged the police and administration to be more involved in the “effective execution” of this decision.
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