Ruyigi : being late at work among teachers is worth incarceration
Seven teachers from schools in the province of Ruyigi (Eastern Burundi) were arrested on November 17 and 21, and then taken to the cells of the provincial police station by the provincial director of education. They were released the same day. At the origin of the case, being late at work. Teachers’ unions are protesting against these arrests. They urge the implementation of the labor code in the event of breaches. INFO SOS Médias Burundi
Aline Niyimbona, teacher at the basic school of Kirangara, Dieudonné Nzisabira teacher at the Nyakiga vocational teaching center, Agnès Niyongere teacher at the district high school of Kirangara (district of Butaganzwa) and Evelyne, teacher at the basic school of Rutimbura in the district of Ruyigi were held for several hours in the cells of the provincial police station.
At the origin of the case : being late at work. The provincial director of education in Ruyigi, Onesphore Nsabiyumva, ordered their arrest. It is himself who drove them in his vehicle to the police station cells.
Three other educators, namely Chantal Sinafasi, supervisor at the district high school of Kirangara, Judith Sinzinkayo teacher at the basic school of Kirangara and Régine, teacher at the basic school of Kigamba (district of Ruyigi) were also victims of this practice of the provincial director of education in Ruyigi. It was November 21.
The local police found this detention “unfounded” and decided to release the detainees.
The provincial director of education in Ruyigi, Onesphore Nsabiyumva, denies this information and speaks of baseless rumours. However, he claims “to have kept these teachers in the inner courtyard of his office until 3 p.m. following repeated delays at their home station”.
The provincial representative of the special coalition of teachers’ unions for national solidarity (Cossessona), Gilbert Kwizera, protests against this practice and asks the provincial director of education to implement the labor code and not to “replace a prosecutor”.
