Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

Burundians make their mark

2005-02-28 08:55
line

Bujumbura - Burundians vote on Monday in a nationwide referendum on a constitution that proposes power-sharing between majority Hutus and minority Tutsis, to put a final end to an 11-year civil conflict that has claimed 300 000 lives in the country.

Monday's vote will mark the first time Burundians go to the polls since the tiny central African nation plunged into chaos in 1993. The new constitution envisages a balanced power arrangement in the country, where the minority Tutsi tribe has ruled since independence in 1962.

Analysts have predicted that pro-referendum Hutu parties, to which some 85% of eligible voters belong, will easily overpower opposition from Tutsi parties, which account for only 14% of voters.

Under the constitution, the president will have two deputies from different ethnic groups while 60% of the cabinet will be Hutu and 40% Tutsi.

Representation in the parliament, made up of a National Assembly and Senate, will be apportioned on a 50-50 basis with Hutu and Tutsi parties required to field candidates from both ethnicities to reach the mix, according to the document.

The army and the police force will also be equally split along ethnic lines.

The thrice-delayed referendum will be the first step in a marathon seven-tier election process scheduled for April 22 when Burundians will directly elect members of parliament.

The MPs will then elect a president at a yet to be determined date.

On Saturday, the country's electoral panel called for calm during the landmark vote, describing the exercise as the advent of "a new era."

"A new era is opening up for our country, which after a period of crisis is headed for peace," said Paul Ngarambe, the electoral panel chief.

"It is for this reason that I call on Burundians to be peaceful when going to the voting centres to exercise the civil rights," Ngarambe added.

Burundi plunged into chaos in 1993 when the country's first democratically elected president, Melchior Ndandaye - a Hutu - was assassinated in a military coup which sparked an orgy of killings that claimed around 300 000 lives.

Currently, Burundi is enjoying relative peace with only one out of seven rebel movements resisting the country's peace process, but the rebels have pledged not to disrupt Monday's referendum.

inside news24

 
1 of 10

140
1

Latest comment in Africa

Anthony says... @Fidel For a few seconds, you showed us the true Fidel; "For God'd sake, who cares about the Zimbabweans" !!!!!! And than you.......quickly deleted your post. You remember what I said to the Russians and Chinese: Slimy and Spineless !!!!!!!! For a few seconds, you showed us your sick and disturbed attitude towards any Arican who does not share your pathethic anti Western points of view. Read the article...

 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Friday Carletonville - 10:01 AM
    Road name: N14
    ROAD CLOSED due to a large sink-hole between the two Carletonville exits - traffic is diverted onto a local bypass route
  • Sunday Volksrust - 07:33 AM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    Stop / go controls for construction works at Majuba Pass - expect delays between Volksrust and Newcastle
  • Monday Centurion - 15:41 PM
    Road name: Jean Avenue
    ROAD CLOSED between Rabie Street and Gerhard Street for sink hole repair works
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

PROJECT MANAGER

Pretoria
City Press
Market Related

Senior Developer

JHB - Eastern Suburbs
Network IT Sunninghill
R350000 - R450000

Systems Developer

JHB - Eastern Suburbs
Network Recruitment CA- Centurion
R420000 - R450000

Cars[change area]

JEEP

Cherokee Limited 3.7 4x4 AT MY05
2005
R 189,995.00

BMW

X3 2.0d E83 4x4 Dsl MY06
2007
R 229,900.00

VOLKSWAGEN

Polo Classic 1.4 Trendline MY05
2008
R 124,990.00

Property [change area]

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Romance at the President

Spend two nights at the Protea Hotel President in Cape Town from R2601 per person sharing. Includes return flights, taxes, car hire and accommodation. Book Now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

Electronics on Sale

Up to 80% off electronics + 24hr delivery. Shop now.

50% Off Educo toys

Join the Big Mama Sale madness at kalahari.com and get 50% off all Educo toys for your kids. Terms and conditions apply. Shop now.

Books on Sale

Up to 80% off books & 1000s Of books to choose from. First come, first served. While stocks last. Shop now.

Blu-ray special offer

Buy 10 blu-rays and get a free Sony blu-ray player. Offer valid while stocks last. Shop now.

Blooming love

We have a range of roses available for that someone special on Valentine's day. Order before 10 February to ensure delivery on 14 February 2012. Buy now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

Drain & Pipe Inspection System

For Sale, Garage Sale in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 21

2011 Mazda 2 1.5 Dynamic

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 22

Estimator

Jobs, Engineering Jobs - Architecture Jobs in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 21

The Big Mama Sale

The Big Mama Sale is now on. Get up to 80% off Books, Music, DVDs, Games, Electronics, Toys & Gifts. Shop now.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

BlackBerry Bold 9780

BlackBerry 6 Engage your world with BlackBerry 6 OS on the...

From R3549.00

I'm shopping for:

A local community where you can meet people, upload photos, videos and loads more...
There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.