Three Burundian ministers have vowed to take decisive action against taxpayers who fail to meet their obligations, following President Évariste Ndayishimiye’s directive to recover unpaid taxes and fees by the end of the year. Meeting at the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) headquarters on Wednesday, the ministers of the interior, justice, and finance announced a united front to enforce compliance and safeguard the country’s economy.
“Let us no longer hear of anyone refusing to pay taxes. It’s shameful. Imagine, in every corner of the country, we hear of people who underestimate us by withholding our money—the money of the nation,” said Interior Minister Martin Niteretse. “We have just started a fight that we must win. If we know there are billionaires refusing to pay, then they are already ahead of us in this battle. Let’s join the fight.” Niteretse emphasized that the effort would rely on laws, not weapons, to ensure compliance.
New Finance Minister Nestor Ntahontuye called for collaboration across security and judicial institutions to support this campaign. “Victory will require the concerted efforts of all relevant entities,” he said.
The crackdown follows a directive issued Tuesday by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who tasked the OBR with recovering all overdue taxes and fees within a two-week timeframe. The president also accused certain government officials of corruption and economic mismanagement, undermining public trust and hindering economic progress.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Justice Minister Domine Banyankimbona urged her colleagues to handle cases of non-compliance with a unified approach. “We must all understand the fight we are about to lead. As the Ministry of Justice, we have a duty to protect the nation’s economy,” she stated.
The dual meetings—one between the president and OBR leaders and another among the three ministers—aim to address Burundi’s economic challenges. However, civil society organizations continue to express concerns about poor governance and corruption. They have called on the government to improve business conditions and attract foreign investment to stabilize the nation’s struggling economy.
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