Burundi to channel Rwandan pensions through BNR

The Burundian Government will by June this year start sending pension money to Rwandans who have deposits in the Burundian Social Security Fund. The development was confirmed by the Minister of Labour last week during a Cabinet Meeting. Rwandan professionals who served in different organs in Burundi had decried the cumbersome procedures of accessing their funds ever since they returned home after the liberation struggle that ended in 1994. “There was an agreement with that country [Burundi] that by June 2009, they will start sending the money through the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR),” a cabinet communiqué released after the meeting reported, quoting Labour Minister Anastase Murekezi. The minister was briefing the cabinet on his recent trip to Burundi where he negotiated with Burundian officials on the issue of remitting the pension for Rwandans. He also said that Burundi pledged that “Rwandans who left the country before their retirement age will have been given back their pension savings before the end of December 2009.” While on a visit to Rwanda in April 2007, Burundian President, Pierre Nkurunziza, had told the media that his government was working on the final arrangements to have all Rwandan pension claims paid. “Pensioners should stay calm because everything is being worked on. The former workers have every right to get their money,” Nkurunziza had said while addressing a joint press conference with President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village during the visit. On the same issue, President Kagame advised the pensioners to remain hopeful, explaining that their claims were being addressed. “The issue may be delayed but it will be solved soon,” he had assured. The two countries have good bilateral relations and President Kagame visited Burundi in August last year, reciprocating a trip that his Burundian counterpart had carried out in Rwanda. Ends