Politics

Burundi: Democracy still weakened, say politicians

On the eve of the celebration of the World Democracy Day on 15 September, politicians say there is still a long way to go towards strong and lasting democracy in Burundi.

Abel Gashatsi:“Everything is not clean. Burundi has gone through several years of war, then, people need to work hard for lasting and true democracy,”

Abel Gashatsi:“Everything is not clean. Burundi has gone through several years of war, then, people need to work hard for lasting and true democracy,”

Abel Gashatsi, Chairman of Uprona party says there are some issues that need to find solutions even if the state institutions are democratically elected. “Everything is not clean. Burundi has gone through several years of war, then, people need to work hard for lasting and true democracy,” he says. He, however, says Burundians have made a great step when they succeeded to establish their executive, legislative and judicial institutions.

The chairman of Uprona party also says his party has contributed much to the establishment of lasting democracy through multi-party election since 1961. “Some political parties took part in the election before the country becomes independent. But things changed when the hero of Independence tried to establish lasting democracy in the country,” he says?

Agathon Rwasa, chairman of the coalition of Independents “Amizero y’Abarundi” says democracy in Burundi is not strong even if there isn’t any perfect democratic country all over the world. “Some people are confused about democracy and election. They think that democracy is the position of the majority by ignoring the minority,” he says adding that politicians must work hard for lasting democracy.

MP Rwasa also says everybody must be respected in democracy. He says, there are some issues that need to find solutions. “Some people do not tolerate others when they do not share political views”, he says.