BUJUMBURA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- As Burundian citizens on Sunday remembered the 56th anniversary of their country's independence, President Pierre Nkurunziza announced the government has made a ten-year strategic plan to consolidate the country's independence.

The plan that will run from 2018 to 2027 was developed by 70 Burundian experts, and will guide investors and other partners of Burundi, Nkurunziza said in a message to the nation in Bujumbura, capital city of Burundi.

According to him, the strategic plan is going to be translated into the national language Kirundi before it is popularized throughout the country. The 70 experts together with others will from 2022 develop another strategic plan that will run up to 2040, said Nkurunziza.

The celebrations of the 56th independence anniversary will take place on Monday under the theme "Consolidating independence through unity and work: source of development."

Celebrating the country's independence anniversary is an opportunity to remember heroes of independence, said the president.

He underlined that the independence of Burundi is not gifted by colonizers and urged Burundian citizens to continue safeguarding it through hard work, unity and much more patriotism.

Germans were the first to colonize Burundi between 1896 and 1916. Belgians took over the country from 1916 to 1962 before it gained independence on July 1, 1962.