A zone chief, a district chief, a cell chief, a communal commissioner, a post chief, an agent of the National Intelligence Service were suspended this Friday, March 3, 2023. They are accused of non-vigilance. This when a tunnel dug without authorization under the body of the section of the road leading to Gatumba (RN4) by Ambassador Jean Marie Rurimirije, a Burundian businessman and Honorary Consul of Hungary demolished it on part
A tunnel dug without authorization under the body of the section of the road leading to Gatumba (RN4) by Ambassador Jean Marie Rurimirije, a Burundian businessman and Honorary Consul of Hungary demolished it on part
On the morning of March 3, 2023, a large force of police and pick-ups were visible on the road leading to Gatumba near the buildings of the ex-BINUB. The Attorney General of the Republic in person was on the scene to ascertain the facts.
At 9 a.m., businessman Jean Marie Rurimije arrives in a casual outfit (sandals, white T-shirt and jogging pants). He parks his luxurious double cab, a black Mercedes, close to an electrical substation he erected himself. At 9:06 a.m., the negotiations begin. Rurimije, the Attorney General of the Republic, the two ministers, the Mayor of the city of Bujumbura and police officers discuss behind closed doors inside a plot next door.
Administrators fall into the trap
At the end of the exchanges (approximately 30 min) and following consulting the cadastral map, the Minister of the Interior speaks to the press to announce the decisions taken. The persons concerned are: the head of the Ngagara zone in the urban commune of Ntahangwa, the head of the industrial district, the head of the cell where the blunder was committed, the communal commissioner of the Ntahangwa commune, the head of the post, and the head of the sector within the National Intelligence Service (SNR).
According to Martin Niteretse, Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, they are accused of lack of vigilance. They did not play their role when Ambassador Jean Marie Rurimirije, a Burundian businessman and Honorary Consul of Hungary dug a tunnel under the body of the section of the road leading to Gatumba (RN4) to make pass the cables.
He wanted to supply water and electricity to his infrastructure erected on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Unfortunately, he did it without permission.
The announcement was made following consultations between the businessman, the Attorney General of the Republic of Burundi, the minister in charge of infrastructure, the mayor of the city of Bujumbura, the director general of Regideso and senior police and SNR officers.
These authorities spent more than two hours on the scene setting aside all other missions. Twenty vehicles were mobilized with so much fuel consumed.
More than 8 million FBu already paid
In a comment on the twitter account, Captain Dieudonné Dukundane, Minister in charge of infrastructure pointed out on March 2, 2023 that the culprit paid nearly 8.5 million FBu into the accounts of the Road Agency of Burundi (ARB) . This in compensation for the damage caused on the RN4.
Also following this damage caused by Ambassador Rurimirije, a substation was demolished. Additional payments to settle the damage bill will also be made. “Investigations are continuing,” informs Minister Niteretse.
Article 336, section 2 of the penal code stipulates that anyone who destroys, overthrows or damages by any means whatsoever, in whole or in part, buildings, bridges, dykes, causeways, railways, telegraph or telephone apparatus or other constructions belonging to others, is punished with a penal servitude of one month to five years and a fine of ten thousand to one hundred thousand Burundian francs or only one of these penalties.