Editor, RE: “The only option is to relocate the Burundian refugees” (The New Times, February 15). I can’t agree more that Rwanda should not be used as a scapegoat for Burundi’s self-generated problems by an irresponsible government. Relocating Burundi refugees (even in countries of their choice—the only viable option) could be just one of the options to temporarily defuse the tension between the two countries, but it can neither be a long term viable option nor a permanent solution to Burundi’s current crisis. Students of well-known Professor Jeffrey Sachs remember what he termed “clinical economics”. Understanding Sachs’s clinical economics can be a starting point to understand the complexity of the situation in Burundi and the fact that making Rwanda a scapegoat is a false route towards its solution. In any disease, there are symptoms and causes. Symptoms of malaria may be high fever and joint pains, while its major cause is an insane environment that harbors mosquitos. In this case, the objective of clinical diagnosis is to find the remedies to symptoms (such as malaria pills and painkillers) while prescribing medical solutions to repel the fundamental causes. Until mid 2005s when Pierre Nkurunziza came to power, per capita incomes and growth in Rwanda and Burundi were similar. Following continued massive violence, corruption, lack of vision in Burundi, their growth paths diverged. In real terms, Burundi has lost nearly two decades of income growth, with incomes set back to 1970 levels and its per capita income is one third of Rwanda’s; not to mention its recent ranking by the IMF as the poorest country in the world—a regression of more than five places. So the refugee issue is just a symptom among many others. What we need and where the international community—including our EAC neighbours for that matter—have failed is to repel the fundamental cause, i.e.forcing the illegal government to resign. Uganda would not be at peace today if there has not been a proud son of Tanzania that was inspired one morning and decided to halt the killings of Ugandan sons and daughters. President Magufuli should not betray Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s legacy to rescue people at risk. President Kenyatta well knows that when the house of a neighbour catches fire, you bring a fire extinguisher. As for President Kagame, I once again thank him from the bottom of my heart for all the care bestowed to all Burundian refugees, including providing them with decent schooling, shelter and health services. He has nothing to do with the Burundi crisis. I also am sure that the idea of relocating Burundian refugees against their will has never and will never cross his mind, wise as we all know he is. Bela
