BUJUMBURA, January 21st (ABP) – The National Assembly led by their speaker Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe met on Monday, January 20, 2025 to analyze and pass the bill amending Law No. 1/09 of November 13, 2020 on the general organization of public administration.
The Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Martin Niteretse was invited to present and explain the bill to the MPs.
As part of the implementation of public administration reforms including the principle of deconcentration and decentralization, Niteretse indicated that Burundi uses two development instruments, namely the vision Burundi, emerging country by 2040 and developed country in 2060 as well as the reviewed National Development Plan (PND) 2023-2027.
He said that in view of the implementation of the policy of deconcentration and decentralization, the constitution of the Republic of Burundi of 2018 provides in its article 143 that “the executive power is delegated, at the provincial level, to a provincial governor responsible for the administration working in their province”.
Minister Niteretse also added that in the same framework, two legal instruments have been put in place for the implementation of that government policy. He specified that Law No. 1/05 of March 16, 2023 determining and delimiting the provinces, communes, zones and villages or neighborhoods of the Republic of Burundi as well as Organic Law No. 1/18 of June 7, 2024 on the reorganization of the communal administration.
In terms of innovation, the minister responsible for the Interior announced that this bill adapts perfectly to the state structures in place and lays the foundations for the development of a deconcentrated structure. It will also allow the updating of Law No. 1/09 of March 17, 2005 distinguishing between political and technical functions.
He added that it was noted that the said public services intended for the population fall under state structures such as the superstructure, central services, deconcentrated services, personalized state administrations, public establishments, external services as well as those falling under public projects. These are all regulated by Law No. 1/9 of November 13, 2020 amending Law No. 1/8 of April 28, 2011 on the general organization of public administration.
Responding to questions from deputies who wanted to know other reforms that have been undertaken to improve the policy, he specified that the new delimitation of provinces, communes, zones and villages or neighborhoods, the decentralization of state services in the communes, the separation of the deliberative body and the communal executive and the strengthening of the zonal administration have been put in place. Regarding the question about taxes paid to the mayorship, he replied that they will be collected at the communal level.
