Burundi : Burundians are ungrateful (President Ndayishimiye)

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye said Wednesday that Burundians are ungrateful, refusing to take responsibility for the fuel shortage which he describes as “a common challenge.” In a message to the nation to mark his four years in power, Mr. Ndayishimiye accused Burundian citizens of “wanting to have everything at the same time.” INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The head of state spoke only in Kirundi, the local language, in a message broadcast on the Burundi national radio and television (RTNB) and relayed by local media. In this speech lasting some 27 minutes, Évariste Ndayishimiye returned to his electoral promises which he considers to have fulfilled. He downplayed his subjects’ complaints.

“What pleases me today is that even in the lamentations people say : we lack this product but they do not say : we do not
have the money to get it and this product they need is not local, it is imported,” he announced.

And he accuses : “Today, every Burundian wants to have everything at the same time. This is why we can say that Burundians are ungrateful.”

According to the Burundian head of state, Burundians are building good houses, wearing nice clothes and eating their fill.

“Those who are in abundance with money in their pockets, they aspire to live like princes using means of travel requiring fuel, they want to drink industrial beer and eat imported foods to show that they are civilized and developed,” President Neva mocked his subjects.

Avoiding responsibilities

According to President Ndayishimiye, there are people who do everything to find a way to raise the population against the institutions.

“It’s true that there are complaints here and there but what is good is that we share the bitterness. This better life to which we aspire, I too need it even if I can’t have access to it. Now while we share the challenges, let them not lead us to lose human values ​​because to be aware of the cross that crushes you, before accusing others, it is advisable to first see the cross they carry,” he contradicted himself.

And he got carried away further : “You will meet a person who tells you : how are we going to get out of this poverty? Were they rich before? What caused them bankruptcy? Human beings can in no case be satisfied”.

The Burundian president believes he has inherited a country plunged into the abyss by several years of crisis, which remains a major challenge for developing the small East African nation, according to his remarks. According to him, the erring civil servants whom he chased away or dismissed “are disrupting security and the economy”.

Like his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza who organized crusades to mark each “victory”, Évariste Ndayishimiye will go to Nyabihanga in the province of Mwaro (central Burundi) to “give thanks to God” from June 20 to 22, 2024.