During the last decade, the Republic of South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda have been mandated by the African Union (AU) to facilitate a Peace Process in Burundi with Uganda as Chair of the Regional Initiative and South Africa as Facilitator. Since 2008, and mainly through the facilitation of South Africa, great strides have been made in peace process, leading to Communal Elections held during 2010.
In August 2011, the State President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency, President Jacob G. Zuma accepted an invitation from President of Burundi, His Excellency, President Pierre Nkurunziza to pay a State Visit to the Republic of Burundi.
At the core of this visit, our democratic state was of the view to facilitate post conflict capacity-building efforts in Burundi; defend and protect the hard-won peace and democracy facilitated by our country in Burundi; and expands and deepens bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
In this regard, our involvement is now focused on strengthening bilateral relations with Burundi and our strong emphasis is now on assisting Burundi to use sport and recreation in its Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) programme. In line with that strategic priority, the Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) undertook during the state visit to mobilise sport equipment with the aim of donating them to the people of the Republic of Burundi.
We see this as our humble and revolutionary contributions towards unleashing the power of sport as a catalyst for peace and development in post-conflict zones in Africa, and in this case, among the Barundi.
SRSA is therefore in the process of fulfilling this noble objective of contributing towards peace and development in Burundi through sport and recreation. We are mobilising resources through partnership with strategic stakeholders for the realisation of this revolutionary cause.
Through our spirit and principle of human solidarity and human sacrifice, we will thus, during this month of December 2011 donate sport equipment and sport attire to the government of the Republic of Burundi. We are finalising all the arrangements with our Barundi counterparts and the South African Embassy in Burundi for the successful delivery of these much needed materials.
Thank you.
