Today, as I sip my Camomile tea with utmost pleasure and my
mind reflecting retrospectively at the beautiful sights of Lake Victoria at Mwanza
where I returned from the ISS training on “Uprisings and Good Governance” last
week, millions of Burundians woke up this morning with a bleak of nightmare. As the Police break up a march in Cibitoke, in
the north of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, it is yet a new wave of popular
demands resisting an undemocratic manipulation of the will of the people by a
seating president seeking to extend term in office beyond constitutional limits.
In the wake of Sunday 26th April, Burundian youths
staged protests movements against this obnoxious and very apparently unpopular gesture
by Pierre Nkurunziza and his party CNDD-FDD and affiliates and political cronies
who have publicly designated Pierre Nkurunziza as their candidate for the June
26 polls. The bone of contention in Burundi and general regional and international
concern is that this gesture by Pierre and his juggernauts not only negates the
“Arusha Treaty” which brought an end to the civil war but also constitutes a
potential vulnerability through which the country could relapse into a new form
of war despite lessons learnt from the recent civil war which resulted in the
deaths of hundreds of thousands.
In spite of the ban by the government on demonstrations, our
Burundian youths and women are back on the streets demanding the rights to good
governance. The ban on demonstrations has also been accompanied by government’s
shutting down of national broadcast by Burundi’s main independent radio
stations. Civil society groups, youth
and women leaders as well as opposition groups are very worried about the
potential danger of this unconstitutional move by Nkurunziza and his
supporters. Two youths have been reportedly killed. Relatives of the victims
report that they were killed by the state police at close range. Two other deaths
were reportedly carried out by the Nkurunziza’s party militia. 15, 000
Burudians have fled in neighbouring Rwanda, reports the UN Refugee Agency. We
fear many more people becoming refugees of bad governance.
As the killings of youths in Burundi continue, we will not
leave the plight of Burundian youths and women to remain exclusively theirs. We saw our youths in Burkina Faso extol a tyrannical
Blaise Compaore who wanted to extend his term beyond constitutional limits. We
saw the youths in Tunisia betting farewell to Ben Ali. And we had Mubarak thrown
out of office by the youths and women of Egypt though we pity the hijack of the
process. Today African leader have all become Oliver Twists asking for more. The
demands in Burkina Faso, Tunisia and others succeeded becaused we raised our
voices in collective unison with the change makers. The dreams and aspirations
of Burundian youths, women and gentlemen are no different from your dreams and
aspirations wherever on planet earth you may be. Peace of mind, education,
decent housing, good health and a sound career. As we share these common dreams
we must not allow the dreams of Burundians to be destroyed by the selfishness
and self-centredness of a few power-seeking people in Bujumbura. The failure of Burundi is the failure of the
entire African region and its success is our collective success.
Think of that young child who is trekking across the border
fleeing away for their dear life. Think of those who will never make the
journey. Think also of those who will be separated from their families and may live
never to see each other. Think of those
who will unfortunately be turned into refugees by the next minutes. Why? Why?
Why? Africa has come to maturity. We will not advise the young people in
Burundi to engage in any form of violence. But we will also not allow power to
shout down their voices. These are the voices of change and transformation. They
are the voices of development. The voices of social justice, rule of law, open
governance and the absence of human rights abuses. As they match the streets of
Burundi seeking for their rights to freedom and DIGNITY, we stand with them.
My fellow citizens of the universe don’t let Burundi
down. Our voices must be carried on camel, by boat and by any means at your
disposal until it has reached the capital city of Bujumbura and into the ears
and heart of Pierre Nkurunziza and his friends that we need the maximum
protection of the DIGNITY of our brothers and sisters and their popular voice
must be heard.
We support no 3rd term in Burundi. We don’t want a
repeat of the civil war. We want a peaceful transition. Democracy and good
governance must be given its place in Burundi. Now is the time. This is the
task we all should be behind.
Thank you.
Dr. Tabi H. Joda
+2348036899290
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