Electoral campaign kicks off in Burundi

Burundi's political parties and groups and independent candidates on Monday deployed nationwide for a three-week campaign ahead of the upcoming general elections.
 

 The African nation is set to elect new president, members of National Assembly and district councillors on May 20.
 

 The campaigns started in the Monday afternoon in various areas. Major General Evariste Ndayishimiye, presidential candidate and secretary general of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), started his rally in Bugendana district, province of Gitega, in central Burundi.
   

"We call on CNDD-FDD members and Burundian people in general to vote for Major General Evariste Ndayishimiye in the presidential election. He is a trustworthy man," President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is also chairman of the CNDD-FDD elders' council, told a crowd of members from the ruling party and its friends at Bugendana.
   

Nkurunziza, who has been in power for 15 years, is not seeking reelection.
   Ndayishimiye said he would boost development sectors, notably agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism and information and communication technologies if elected.
   "We will boost the sector of cash crops through increasing exports with new brands like mushrooms. We will also increase the production of food crops to fight hunger," said Ndayishimiye.
   He said factories will also be built in order to create jobs.
   Campaigning runs until May 17. (Xinhua)