How can administrative officials enrich themselves at the expense of the population through fraudulent practices? Who will compensate the citizens who have fallen victim to these actions? Who authorized these officials to order the demolition of people’s homes?
The officials implicated are MANIRAMBONA Jean Paul, Head of Rutegama Quarter in Gitega Zone, and NZOSABIMANA Richard, Head of Gitega Zone. The alleged incidents took place in Gitega Commune, Gitega Province.
Residents of the quarter claim that they have been victims of financial extortion orchestrated by their local administrative officials through practices they consider fraudulent.
First, on June 6, 2026, the two officials issued a public notice instructing residents to demolish houses located near the road connecting two localities within the quarter, namely Mwayi and Rutegama. According to the explanations reportedly given to them, the road was to undergo modern upgrading, including the installation of paving stones, as part of a project to be carried out by the Burundi Roads Agency (ARB), the public institution responsible for road infrastructure.
The residents complied with the instructions and began demolishing their homes.
Subsequently, the same officials allegedly demanded financial contributions from residents to fund the construction of the road. Each resident was reportedly required to pay a minimum of 100,000 Burundian francs (BIF). Some were allegedly forced to pay even higher amounts, depending on their professional activities.
This demand raised serious concerns among residents, particularly because the officials had initially stated that the roadworks would be carried out by the ARB, the public institution responsible for road infrastructure.
Residents Discover That the Road Project Is Apparently Unknown to Provincial Authorities
On October 13, 2026, the Governor of Gitega Province, Liboire BIGIRIMANA, held a meeting with the population under his administration. During the meeting, the issue of the Rutegama road project was raised.
The Governor reportedly stated that he had no information concerning such a project in Rutegama Quarter. He further indicated that the only quarters included in the road construction projects were Rango, Musinzira, and Statanya.
This statement came as a profound shock to the residents. They consequently discovered that the road for which they had been compelled to contribute money and demolish their homes would apparently not be constructed, and that the project itself was reportedly unknown to the provincial authorities.
Since then, residents have been questioning the basis upon which their local administrative officials, particularly the Quarter Chief and the Zone Chief, issued instructions ordering them to demolish their homes and pay money. To date, they claim to have received no satisfactory explanation to address their concerns.
Residents Demand a Full Refund of All Money Collected
At present, the residents’ main demand is the full reimbursement of all the amounts allegedly collected from them unlawfully by these officials.
Five months have already passed since their houses were demolished, despite assurances that the road improvement works would be completed within a short period, as indicated in the document signed by the two administrative officials.
The residents are particularly distressed by the fact that they were forced to make these financial contributions despite already living in difficult economic conditions and struggling to provide for their families.
They are therefore calling for the intervention of higher-level authorities to ensure that justice is served and that their money is returned.
Based on the circumstances they describe, the residents suspect that a financial extortion scheme may have been organized by MANIRAMBONA Jean Paul, allegedly with the complicity of NZOSABIMANA Richard.
They are calling on the competent authorities to launch an independent investigation, establish the facts and determine individual responsibility, and take the necessary measures to ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable in accordance with the law.