President Evariste Ndayishimiye announced, on July 1, his commitment to supporting young people. 40% of the surplus from Burundi Revenue Authority’s budgetary forecasts will be granted to communes to support youths gathered in cooperatives. Experts in economy, however, doubt over its feasibility despite this good initiative.
Government committed to supporting young people
Jean Prosper Niyoboke, economic expert says the President has taken a good and encouraging initiative. He, however, says this initiative raises some concerns regarding the Burundian economy. “Burundi Revenue Authority-OBR makes its forecasts according to previous statistics.
The difference between budgetary forecasts and achievements should not be substantial,” says Niyoboke adding that anyone should wonder the consistency of this envelope estimated at 40% of the revenue surplus compared to the youth projects.
On July 1, President Evariste Ndayishimiye announced that 40% of the surplus from the OBR’s estimates will be granted to communes to empower young people. “We particularly want to support unemployed graduates. We don’t want to hear once again any unemployed person. Every person should work to satisfy their needs”, he said, urging young people to work in cooperatives.
For Jean Prosper Niyoboke, 40% of the surplus might not be enough given the number of unemployed youths including graduates and illiterate. “This surplus should be orientated to the Youth Bank recently established to support youth projects to serve as guarantee fund,” he says.
He also says young people and administrative officials must be trained in entrepreneurship to work in cooperatives and mark a change. “Few young people are professionally integrated,” says Niyoboke.
The similar view is also made by Thaddée Nzotunga, Chairman of Burundi Research and Development Center-CEREPE. He says projects should be established according to the society needs. “The establishment of cooperatives and associations should also be recommended to young people,” he says.
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