As countries across the globe continue to implement stringent measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, Burundi is unbothered and authorities in the landlocked country are preparing for a general election.
Campaigns are in top gear and supporters of different political parties have been attending rallies in large numbers despite the outbreak of COVID-19 which has so far infected 15 people in the country.
On Sunday, April 26, President Pierre Nkurunziza who is set to relinquish power in May 2020 led thousands of supporters of the ruling outfit in the official launch of campaigns where he endorsed Evariste Ndayishimiye to take over the country’s leadership.
Burundians are set to head to the ballot on May 17, 2020, and leaders have maintained the date would not be changed despite the outbreak of coronavirus.
During the Sunday campaign rally, supporters of the ruling party, The National Council for Defence Democracy (CNDD–FDD), wore T-shirts emblazoned with Ndayishiye’s image and kept on dancing and chanting his slogans in total disregard to social distancing policy.
They further accused the state of using police officers to harass, intimidate and silence critics and opponents of government-sponsored candidates.
In the neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania where cases are relatively higher that Burundi’s, strict measures such a lockdown, suspension of social gatherings and closure of schools have been imposed to deal with coronavirus.
