Is colonialism sequel cause of major problems in Burundi?

At the time when the Burundian government claims that most of problems that the country is faced with were caused by colonialism and neocolonialism, some Burundian politicians find these arguments unfounded.

Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, spokesman for Burundi President “We have to preserve our traditional value since before colonization, Burundians were well organized and lived peacefully,”

Professor Evariste Ngayimpenda, who attended the 4th Conference of Burundi Research Network held last week in Nairobi contradicts this position.

“Burundi is not the only country in the world, in Africa or in the region to have been colonized. There are even countries that achieved their independence later than Burundi, but that try to cope with their own problems, “says Ngayimpenda. “The world doesn’t understand why we continue to accuse former colonial powers of being the cause of our problems,” he says.
Professor Ngayimpenda believes that that anti-colonialism remark is newly adopted by Burundian authorities since the country has plunged into a period of turbulence caused by electoral disputes.

Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, spokesman for Burundi President strongly supports the position of the government. He says Burundi bitterly suffered a colonialism sequel. “It is safe to say that Burundians suffer the aftermath of colonialism economically, politically …,” says Ndenzako adding that Burundians are still fighting to preserve their independence.

Ndenzako indicates that the Burundian President through his campaign to improve the morals of the population calls on Burundians to promote traditional values so as to get rid of these problems caused by colonialism. “We have to preserve our traditional value since before colonization, Burundians were well organized and lived peacefully,” says Ndenzako

In his address to the nation on June 30 on the occasion of the celebration of the 57th anniversary of the independence of Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza recalled that the major problems that Burundians are faced with were caused by the colonizers.