The Vice President of the Republic Prosper Bazombanza together with the Mayor of the city of Bujumbura Jimmy Hatungimana joined the population of the City of Bujumbura on Thursday, September 10, 2020 in the work of uprooting the polluting grass called Water Hyacinth on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Every Thursday, the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, Local Development and Public Security jointly dedicated Thursday of each week to National Environment Day.

In his welcoming speech, Jimmy Hatungimana thanked the Vice President of the Republic who chose to join the townspeople of Bujumbura City Hall during the work dedicated to the environment.

The Vice President of the Republic Prosper Bazombanza for his part, said that this day was established to protect the environment throughout the country. He also recalled that environmental protection is one of the strategic axes of the PND2018-2027 National Development Plan. And to invite all city residents to take ownership of this noble task, especially by cleaning the gutters in front of their households.

Regarding water hyacinth, the Vice President of the Republic said that this herb threatens the environment and in particular the waters of Lake Tanganyika. He explained that the proliferation of this grass prevents the reproduction of fish and therefore humans experience difficulties in fishing. Prosper Bazombanza then urged the population near Lake Tanganyika to continue uprooting this grass in order to eradicate it.

With regard to the protection of Lake Tanganyika, the Vice-President of the Republic called on the surrounding enterprises to first treat waste and wastewater from these industries before they are evacuated into Lake Tanganyika. He took this opportunity to recommend to young people to cut corners with Ligalas and to do household chores, especially by cleaning the surrounding areas.

At a time when the world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Prosper Bazombanza welcomed the step taken in the prevention of this pandemic in the country. An opportunity for him to encourage the population to implement the measures already taken by the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS to deal with COVID-19.

He ended his remarks for the occasion by welcoming the will and courage of some Burundian refugees who have recently returned home and invited them to sensitize their fellow citizens who are still in refugee camps abroad to do the same as well, because peace reigns throughout the country, because peace reigns throughout the country, he concluded.