Gitega: cheating in granting the national identity card as 2025 elections approach

During a meeting to prepare the establishment of members of the independent communal electoral commissions (CECI) held Thursday in the political capital Gitega, Monseigneur Évariste Nijimbere, bishop of the Anglican diocese of Buhiga, denounced cheating already observed as elections near. According to the bishop, in 2020, we saw people who held two or more national identity cards. For him, the solution is the biometric identity card which should end this practice. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Monsignor Nijimbere indicates that the deadline from August 12 to 16 allocated to the submission of files for members of the independent electoral commission at the municipal level (CECI) is very short. Especially since, according to him, they must look for residence certificates.

Daniel Manirakiza, head of the Sahwanya FRODEBU party in Gitega province, for his part, says he does not understand the relevance of residence certificates, noting that this document does not appear on the list of papers requested to a CECI candidate.

While the Muslim community is not represented either in the CENI or in the CEPI, the representative of COMIBU (Islamic Community of Burundi) in Gitega province, Alizadi Minani, calls for broad representation in the CECI, including the Muslim community.

For his part, on behalf of the Association for Progressive African Youth (AJAP) in Gitega, Protais Icurabuhoro, appeals to young people to no longer listen to politicians who entrust them with impossible missions. He advised them to act while safeguarding peace and security.

Reacting to questions from participants, the president of CEPI-Gitega, Joseph Maniraho said that the certificate of residence does not constitute a criterion for elimination in the CECI, but that not everyone can be picked following the very limited numbers needed.

The number increases from 5 to 7 members per CECI and the new province of Gitega which has nine communes will have a total of 63 CECI members.

According to Joseph Maniraho, president of CEPI-Gitega, the lists of selected candidates will be displayed in the capitals of the communes. They will be sworn in on August 29 and will take office from September 1, 2024.

The voter registration operation is scheduled for October 22 to 31, 2024.