Burundi president launches campaign to extend rule

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza. He wants Constitution change so that he can rule until 2034. PHOTO | CARL DE SOUZA |

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has launched a campaign to promote a referendum to change the constitution that could see him rule until 2034.

"It's the day you've been waiting for," President Nkurunziza told a crowd of thousands of farmers in the central Gitega district on Tuesday, threatening those who sought to undermine the referendum vote slated for early 2018.