The polls opened at 6am local time (04:00 GMT) on Monday and over 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote in the polls.
The opposition and civil society groups are boycotting the polls, saying they will not be free and fair. Burundian authorities have refused to delay the elections despite calls from the international community.
Bloom Gist's correspondent in one of the polling centers, Patrick Ineza said tthere has been fear and tension on Monday morning, with many fearing a continuation of the violence that has marred the lead-up to the elections and that there were delays reported at several polling stations across the country, following violence.
"There aren't many people here, I would say around 50. Several polling stations were attacked and there was gunfire overnight," she said, adding extra police had been brought in to conduct searches on those voting.
"When asked, people say all they want is politics out of the way and out of their lives, they fear there could be potential for a lot of violence after the elections. Many people are crossing the border out of the country as we speak.
"Some people who support the president are saying they want to come and vote but they're scared...they say some opposition members could victimise them because they vote."
The African Union (AU) will not observe the elections, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the commission of the AU, has said.
Police in Burundi said that several polling centres were attacked overnight, with no damage caused to electoral materials.
In a communique released on Sunday, Dlamini-Zuma said the "AU reiterates the imperative need for dialogue and consensus for a lasting solution to the crisis in Burundi".
"[The AU] will not observe the elections scheduled for 29 June 2015," Dlamini-Zuma said.
Echoing the AU's remarks, the UN said on Sunday that Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was concerned about "the Government of Burundi's insistence on going ahead with elections on 29 June despite the prevailing political and security environment".
Mutasa said some supporters of President Nkurunziza are wondering why Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir was seemingly protected in South Africa at the AU summit in Johannesburg just over a week back, while their president seems to have been abandoned by the AU.
Bloom Gist's correspondent in one of the polling centers, Patrick Ineza said tthere has been fear and tension on Monday morning, with many fearing a continuation of the violence that has marred the lead-up to the elections and that there were delays reported at several polling stations across the country, following violence.
 |
| "Polls will open late in many places because some people have thrown grenades and police are sorting things out. |
"When asked, people say all they want is politics out of the way and out of their lives, they fear there could be potential for a lot of violence after the elections. Many people are crossing the border out of the country as we speak.
"Some people who support the president are saying they want to come and vote but they're scared...they say some opposition members could victimise them because they vote."
 |
| Burundi has been in turmoil since April, when Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term, triggering weeks of protests, and an abortive military coup last month. |
Police in Burundi said that several polling centres were attacked overnight, with no damage caused to electoral materials.
In a communique released on Sunday, Dlamini-Zuma said the "AU reiterates the imperative need for dialogue and consensus for a lasting solution to the crisis in Burundi".
"[The AU] will not observe the elections scheduled for 29 June 2015," Dlamini-Zuma said.
Echoing the AU's remarks, the UN said on Sunday that Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was concerned about "the Government of Burundi's insistence on going ahead with elections on 29 June despite the prevailing political and security environment".
