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Scoring a goal for peace
Wednesday, 30 July, 2008
Burundi’s flamboyant President Nkurunziza regularly takes to the soccer field in order to heal his war-torn country.
His appearances draw big crowds and he uses the opportunity to push his message of peace and reconciliation.
Have Your Say; Are President's Nkurunziza's methods effective in Africa?
Nkurunziza waged a guerrilla war against Burundi’s Tutsi soldiers until four years ago when he was elected President.
Ginny Stein travels to Burundi to meet him and finds that - apart from football - the President is also a fitness fanatic who enjoys cycling – albeit followed by a convoy of vehicles carrying his security guards.
He also rolls up his sleeves and joins as many as five million Burundians in a weekly working bee to lay bricks and mortar to replace infrastructure ruined during the war.
Catch Dateline on SBS, Wednesdays at 8:30pm.
His appearances draw big crowds and he uses the opportunity to push his message of peace and reconciliation.
Have Your Say; Are President's Nkurunziza's methods effective in Africa?
Nkurunziza waged a guerrilla war against Burundi’s Tutsi soldiers until four years ago when he was elected President.
Ginny Stein travels to Burundi to meet him and finds that - apart from football - the President is also a fitness fanatic who enjoys cycling – albeit followed by a convoy of vehicles carrying his security guards.
He also rolls up his sleeves and joins as many as five million Burundians in a weekly working bee to lay bricks and mortar to replace infrastructure ruined during the war.
Catch Dateline on SBS, Wednesdays at 8:30pm.
