As the plane touched down at Bujumbura International Airport, my expectation were not far away from a huge bomb blast, heavy gunshots within the vicinity as a signal- Welcome to Burundi.
My surprise however was tranquility and the hospitality of the Burundians at the airport, “please enjoy your stay in Burundi,” one of the aviation workers briefly said as she smiled.
As I was being chauffeured to Bujumbura city to the hotel where I would reside for the next four days, I was more curious, my eyes wouldn’t be off the car window, trying to find out what was happening on the streets.
My impression again was to see guns exchange hands on the streets, blood spilling over and security cracking down protesters, according to what I had previously read in many online publications, but this was contrary.
Quickly I posed a question to myself, “do Western Media Organisations tell the real story on Burundi?”
I checked in my hotel safely and sound, I was able to communicate with my people back home and connect to the world using wireless internet provided by the hotel as I enjoyed the local dish and the popular Mukeke grilled fish from Lake Tanganyika which is a stone throw away from Bujumbura city.
I was home away from home.
My quest for the next three days was to find the real story from the ground, I would later traverse the city, interact with a couple of businessmen and women on issues related to the economy, chat with locals in remote areas of Gitega, Ruvubu and on the shores of Tanganyika about governance and again understanding the social life of these ever jolly Burundian nationals.
Beginning with a media conference held at Brighton Hotel, it was attended by several stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, government and many more.
I put it to the civil society activists to briefly describe for me the political situation as opposed to the media reports.
To my consternation, these activists had changed stance on what I would read previously about violence ripping apart the nation.
To me, I understood that these reports published by the western media are sponsored by interested groups whose mission is to destabilise the country.
Business
I began touring around the city to deeply understand how these people conduct business.
Despite the ‘insecurity’ as earlier perceived the Burundian Franc stands at 2500 against US dollar.
Back here in my country the shilling keeps depreciating everyday and sooner it will clock shs 4000 against $1.
Cotebu, is considered a business hub of business of Bujumbura and here many traders venture in different businesses ranging from fashion, spare parts, pharamaceutical, agro-business to mention but a few.
An interaction with most of the traders reveals a belief among the population that Burundi is steadily growing and very peaceful.
The shock but a gain a surprise is these locals further believe that investors should rush to inject money in this ‘virgin land of multitude opportunities.’
Indeed Burundi’s strongest weapon is the fertile soils and without a doubt if government and investors can invest heavily in agriculture, this small nation can be the undisputed food basket of the continent, I observed.
I wasn’t satisfied with what I had seen during the day, I again moved at night, I wanted to see how business again is conducted and in which environment and if the citizens were free to move without curfew, harassment and arrests.
Towards 8pm, most of the traders balance their books of accounts and plan to close their workplaces and return home.
By 10pm most of the businesses are shut except hotels and bars.
The streets are as safe as ‘heaven’. Security led by police and military keep patrolling to ensure there is no violence.
For the four nights, there was neither a single gunshot nor an alarm was made.
Bienvenu Nzeyimana, a hotelier is very optimistic Burundi will develop hastily, “we are recovering, foreigners will come and invest here and we will make money.”
He explained that the Hotel business has so far not been disappointing.
On a good day, he earns $1000. He vehemently condemned those Burundians who spread negativities basing from foreign countries, lacking information of what is happening on ground.
I asked myself again what would be the motive of the foreign media outlets portraying Burundi as very insecure.
Watch out for the next episode on governance.