The news of the appointment of the former President of Burundi Domitien Ndayizeye as Special Envoy of the Francophonie for Haiti fell on October 7. She did not leave this blogger indifferent. For him, Burundi is full of talents and figures of wisdom whose abilities are not sufficiently put to use in their own country. Explanations.
Little note to start: the number of Burundians employed by the United Nations system in 2022 was 723.
Not yet two months ago, a blogger sent a letter to Professor Léonce Ndikumana in which he regretted that his lectures, although worthy of enlightening well-meaning souls, resembled a voice crying in the desert. The academic is not alone. The cases of Domitien Ndayizeye and Professor Paul Ngarambe also illustrate a sad reality. Local expertise and skills are neglected or even ignored in Burundi’s development processes, even though they are praised at the international level.
The recent appointment of President Domitien Ndayizeye demonstrates confidence in his abilities to resolve complex crises and promote stability in a fragile context. His experience as a former president during a difficult transition period will certainly stand him in good stead. For his part, the eminent professor Paul Ngarambe is now a member of the “Panel of Eminent Africans”, the African Union body responsible for selecting the continent’s future leaders.
These distinctions for the worthy sons of the country recall the phenomenon of brain drain, which is more than current in Burundi. If some leaders characterize departures abroad as a sign of a low level of patriotism, the reasons must certainly be sought elsewhere. What is obvious is that Burundian expertise and skills are a resource that is exported more than it is consumed within the country.
No one is a prophet at home
Since 2005, former presidents of Burundi have automatically become senators for life. One way among many others to put their experience to use. Unfortunately, since June 2018, this provision has been removed from the Senate’s internal regulations. A question then arises: why are these men (and women) whose expertise and wisdom are celebrated abroad not more called upon to actively participate in the reconstruction and development of their own country?
Several factors could explain this relative exclusion: political chicanery, power issues, the primacy of group interests over the national interest or simply a lack of attachment to excellence.
An even broader reflection arises: is there a desire on the part of our decision-makers to ignore “Made in Burundi” expertise to meet development challenges? If this is not the case, how can we explain the fact that our country continues to suffer from shortcomings in governance, economy and society while local skills and expertise are promoted internationally? Paradox.
The key to intergenerational inclusion
The adage of our ancestors says it well: “ The old house is on fire » (« The old broom knows every corner », would say an Irishman). Not favoring the complementarity between the vigor of the younger generations and the experience of the elders only leads the country into stagnation or slowdown on the path to progress.
It is imperative for Burundi to rethink its governance mechanisms and ensure that national talents, rich in their international experience, play a central role in the country’s transformation process.
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2024-10-09 12:52:00