Kayanza: forced contributions requested by the CNDD-FDD party

In Kayanza province in northern Burundi, the population is forced to contribute by force to the fundraising campaign of the presidential party for legislative election due in 2025. Each household must at least give between 2000 and 5000 Burundian francs. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The contribution is intended for the campaign for the next legislative elections.

The ruling party demands from the population of the urban center of Kayanza, for example, a sum ranging from 2000 to 5000 Burundian francs for ordinary civil servants or other people with modest means.

According to our sources in the center of Kayanza, this forced collection operation affects everyone: households, shops, stores, bistros but also passers-by.

Administrative officials accompany Imbonerakure (members of the CNDD-FDD youth league) in this campaign.

The same sources within the population who say they are victims of this forced act say that this operation was organized by the presidential party because the receipts given to those who contributed are stamped CNDD-FDD.

“We were surprised to see that the receipts are from CNDD-FDD while we were told that this contribution is intended to support the next elections,” regrets a trader from Kirema in the center of Kayanza.

Another thing that surprised everyone, including activists of this party, is to see how an individual who gives a contribution of less than 2000 francs does not get a receipt while on the latter, it mentions a sum of 1000 francs.

“On the receipt that we were given, it says 1000 while I gave 5000 francs, just like my neighbor. Each one gave 5000 but the receipt is for 1000. We wonder where this sum goes”, the trader wondered.

According to witnesses, large traders contribute in terms of tens of thousands, others prefer to send their contributions to the party accounts themselves.

Senior government officials appointed by decree must pay hundreds of thousands of francs, according to some officials in Kayanza.

“I know a CNDD-FDD elected official who gave 300,000 francs. Another senior official was forced to give 500,000 francs,” a civil servant who is a member of the ruling party told us.

Everyone has to contribute. Those who refuse to contribute are put on a list.

“We are surprised to be ransomed when we are not from this party. However, we are also going to contribute within our own parties,” laments a UPRONA activist.

According to local sources, some supporters of the CNL, the main opposition party, opposed this measure.

The elected officials of the CNDD-FDD party have drawn up a list of recalcitrants while threatening anyone who does not comply with this requirement.

“You have no place here, wait and see,” shouted the Bagumyabanga (name given to CNDD-FDD activists) to anyone who did not want to make the contribution.

The population of Kayanza reports that they are tired of forced contributions and fees in favor of the presidential party that only worsen poverty