Burundi’s economic future

Teachers and students of different universities recently discussed the World Bank report on Burundi’s economic situation. They suggested ideas to improve the economic outlook of the country.-J.Berchmans Siboniyo

: Lecturers of different universities exchanging ideas with students on how to improve the economic situation of Burundi © Iwacu

The World Bank suggests that increasing export and developing the mining sector can be useful toolsfor Burundi’s economic growth. During a meeting at the University of Burundi last week, several university lecturers and students agreed. However, they belief it isdifficult to boost these sectors because thegrowth barrier is internal.

“Burundi’s coffee is appreciated worldwide. Nevertheless, the quantity is not nearly enough to cover the requests from all around the world. Burundians should prioritize to farm it. Unfortunately the government is not doing anything to encourage farmers to make it a priority. Instead, some farmers say that they will only keep up the coffee trees which are along the street and uproot the coffee trees thatare in other plots of land, so they can farm other produce”, says François Bararuzunza, a lecturer at University of Burundi.He goes on saying that food security is the main issue, because those who uproot their coffee trees do it because they are hungry. “The tourism industry should be developed to bring in foreign currency.”Bararuzunza indicates that Burundi has many opportunities to develop the tourist sector. He mentionsthe source of the Nile, the hippopotamus in Lake Tanganyika, Mwishangafalls and other attractions.

LéonidasNdayizeye, a teacher in the Sciences and Management Department, indicates that overpopulation is a barrier to the economic growth. “As long as the population keeps on increasing, we will never be able to change the economic situation. If we want to attain significant growth, we must produce more than we consume. Yet, at the moment, agricultural output does not even cover our consumption. People are dying of hunger.”He proposes that the government should provide selected seeds and fertilizers to the population.

François Birehastates that Burundian enterprises mustlearn how to profit from the youth’s talents. “Enterprisesin Burundi must be harmonized with those elsewhere in the region. To attain that, young people must be employed. Supervision should be done in such a way that the young people can bring long term results.” He gives the example of the palm oil industry in Rumongecommune and fruit industries in different areas in the country that are performingwell,but are not known outside the region. He also notes that corruption must be abolished if Burundians want to improve economically.
“University students must change their mentality. Many of them are becoming more attached to the land than their parents, whereas they have the knowledge that enables them to do something different”, says one assistant teacher at the University of Burundi. He indicates that few Burundians attain university degrees, only 5% of the youth, according to the WB report. He encourages Burundian youth to be visionary and pursue advanced studies.
The participants say the mining sector would help improve the economic and financial situations. However, they unanimously said that the sector is not well monitored, without specifying the flaws hampering the sector’s development.

To finalize, the participants of the meeting suggest that Burundi’s government consult with economic agents and specialists in order to prioritize projects for implementation. The government must also employ the youth and support their projects.