Speaking in a panel with President Evariste Ndayishimiye earlier on Saturday at the presidential palace, former Presidents Domitien Ndayizeye and Sylvestre Ntibantunganya called for urgent reforms to combat corruption and restore the Rule of law to achieve sustainable development and attract investors.
Former President Domitien Ndayizeye called corruption a “reality” that continues to stifle Burundi’s progress. According to him, no country has ever achieved sustainable development without combating corruption.
Ndayizeye specifically criticized the practice of soliciting bribes from foreign investors. “Corruption prevents investors from setting up in Burundi because there are people who demand money in exchange for authorization to invest,” he said.
He urged leaders to treat investors with respect, stressing the value of hospitality in Burundi’s culture. “When they get to know the country, they will help promote its image abroad. We must avoid this behavior of demanding bribes when investors want to bring their capital here,” Ndayizeye also said.
Beyond fighting corruption, Ndayizeye called on both citizens and leaders to champion patriotism, social cohesion, and adherence to the rule of law as key pillars for national progress.
Former President Sylvestre Ntibantunganya echoed the call for systemic reforms, highlighting the shortcomings of some public officials. He accused some authorities of lacking patriotism and prioritizing personal gain over public service.
“There are still authorities who have lost their sense of dignity. When a citizen faces a problem, they look for officials and cannot find them. But when a citizen is selling their property, suddenly all the authorities show up because they stand to gain something. It’s shameful,” Ntibantunganya said.
He emphasized that achieving Burundi’s development goals would require a fundamental change in mentality across all levels of leadership.
The panel discussion was based on the vision: “Burundi: an emerging country by 2040, a developed nation by 2060.” President Ndayishimiye called on all Burundians to rally behind this vision and make every effort to achieve it.
The discussion followed a two-day roundtable aimed at attracting foreign investors, where participants raised similar concerns about governance, transparency, and corruption.
On Thursday, Senate Speaker Emmanuel Sinzohagera also deplored what he described as a crisis of moral integrity and accountability in leadership and called on leaders to prioritize the well-being of citizens.
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