Referendum puts Nkurunziza in charge until 2034
BURUNDIAN President Pierre Nkurunziza has declared victory in a referendum, which could see him remain as president until 2034.
The referendum was held on Thursday and the results were published on Monday in the capital Bujumbura.
Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, president of the electoral body said “yes” won 73.26% while “no” got only 19.34%. He added the election for the constitutional change was 100% government funded.
However, opposition activist Evariste Ngayimpenda, vice-president of an independent coalition known as Amizero y’abarundi (the hope of Burundians), said the vote was marred by irregularities as the coalition followers were arrested, tortured and even killed during the campaign and on voting day.
“We will seize justice by rejecting the results. We don’t recognise the results and will protest until the day the referendum is reorganised again in a fair way,” Ngayimpenda said.
Burundi ruling party General Secretary Evariste Ndayishimiye did not react after the results were published but sources close to the ruling party say “there is a long way to go”.
“We got a small percentage. We were not expecting to get such a small victory. This means there are people who show they are for the ruling party but really vote for other parties,” a member of the presidency belonging to the ruling party told Independent Media after publication of the referendum result.
During the vote and campaign, tension remained high and priests of the Catholic Church (the main spiritual group in the country) were targeted by unknown people. One was found dead in his room in Gitega and another survived serious wounds after an armed attack at his convent in Mwaro.
Meanwhile, arrests against the “no” vote supporters increased, and the opposition says there is a plan to kill “no” vote leader Agathon Rwasa, who is also a former rebel leader.
The US, via State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, said the referendum was marred by irregularities and a lack of transparency.