Burundi’s ‘voluntary’ tax to fund elections

Students not spared from contributing

Nairobi – Burundi’s government has launched a fundraising drive for elections in 2020, presented as “voluntary” but condemned by rights groups as “organised robbery”.

Western electoral aid was cut in 2015, when Burundi was plunged into crisis as President Pierre Nkurunziza sought – and went on to win – a controversial third term.

Between 500 and 2 000 people are estimated to have died in the ensuing turmoil, according to varying tolls.

The government on Monday launched the contribution campaign for the next round of polls, calling on people to “fulfil this highly patriotic duty”.

The government adopted a plan in October to revise the constitution that, if voted in by a referendum slated for early 2018, would allow Nkurunziza to serve another two sevenyear terms from 2020.

The government suggested payments range from half a dollar for high school students, double that for farmers, to monthly deductions from wage packets of civil servants.

But Gabriel Rufyiri, head of the anti-corruption board Olucome, who is in exile said the move “is organised robbery” .

Ordinary people will have to show payment receipts or face the ruling party’s ferocious Imbonerakure youth wing, branded as a militia by the UN – and be blocked from accessing government services.