BUBANZA, March 26th (ABP) – 86 demobilised soldiers from the Mpanda commune (north-west Burundi), organised in a cooperative called “Twibukane”, received hoes and an envelope of money from their cooperative on Friday, 21 March 2025, on the occasion of the exchange of good wishes, according to local sources.
According to the president of the Twibukane cooperative, Jean Marie Sugwigano, the cooperative was set up in 2005 with 86 members, including 14 women and 10 war-disabled people. He explained that the aim of the cooperative was self-development and mutual aid in times of need. Since 2005, members have already benefited from pigs, goats for Muslims and farming equipment.
It has also received a two-hectare rice field from the Mpanda commune. Some of the members, such as Mr. Désiré Maniramfasha (disabled) and Mrs. Goreth Nshimirimana, contacted by ABP, said that those domestic animals have enabled them to improve their living conditions, because, they say, they are now able to meet many of the daily needs of their households.
They are calling on other residents to join that self-development cooperative, because, they say, there is strength in numbers. The demobilised soldiers are asking their partners and various authorities for support in implementing their agro-pastoral projects.
The commune of Mpanda alone has more than 300 war veterans.