President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s recent statements about domestic workers’ living conditions have drawn sharp criticism , with some workers in the economic capital Bujumbura saying his remarks do not reflect their everyday struggles.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the newly appointed leader of Commune Cibitoke in Bujumbura Province, the head of state suggested that domestic workers are among the best-off earners in the country.
“The person who earns the highest salary in Burundi is the domestic worker,” President Ndayishimiye said in a video that went viral on social media. “They live in a house with electricity and water without paying for it. They are the first to eat good food because they taste it before too much water is added. Even with meat—before it is watered down—they taste it first to check if it’s well cooked. They bathe with soap they did not buy, wear clothes purchased with leftover money from grocery shopping, and end the month with their full salary still intact.”
Backlash from Domestic Workers
The president’s remarks quickly drew criticism, with many domestic workers saying the statements were out of touch with their daily struggles. Some also denounced his repeated use of the term “houseboy” as derogatory.
“We do not appreciate being called ‘houseboy’ or ‘maid,’” said an 18-year-old domestic worker in northern Bujumbura. “They should find another appropriate name. As long as you are working for someone else, you cannot claim to be well-off. I don’t want to remain in this kind of life because I aspire to become an employer myself.”
A young woman in Bujumbura’s Cibitoke neighborhood also dismissed the president’s claims, saying her income barely covers basic needs.
“If I want to buy a T-shirt or body lotion, I have to ask my employer to lend me money before my salary arrives. How could you possibly save anything?” she said. “I don’t agree with the president because his words don’t reflect my reality.”
Another worker challenged the claim that domestic employees benefit from their proximity to employers.
“How could one live extravagantly when you are always with your boss? What the president says and what we experience are very different,” he said
Since taking office in 2020, President Evariste Ndayishimiye has gained a reputation for outspoken and often controversial public statements.
In an interview with the French public television channel TV5 Monde, broadcast in December last year, President Ndayishimiye claimed that Burundi is a country where life is cheaper compared to other neighboring countries.
“Ask the price of a kilogram of rice in Bujumbura, compare it with neighboring countries, and you will see that here, life is more affordable because, first and foremost, we ensure food security,” President Ndayishimiye said.
Opposition politicians and local civil society organizations disagreed, describing the country’s current socio-economic situation as “unprecedented”.
Critics also say his recent comments downplay the economic hardship faced by thousands of domestic workers in Burundi, many of whom struggle to meet basic expenses despite long working hours.
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