BUJUMBURA November 24th (ABP) – The cement produced by the Burundi cement company (BUCECO) is becoming increasingly untraceable in several neighborhoods of the city of Bujumbura, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
The impossibility of being able to find where to stock up for more than two weeks and the lack of information on the shortage of that product are the great concerns expressed by some sellers of BUCECO cement met in the Asian district (Mukaza commune).
That shortage has caused the price of that product to rise. The few traders contacted about that claim that there is no longer a fixed price for this cement because, they say, it varies between 26,000 and 30,000 BIF per bag. Cement sellers are content with the Simba variety produced in Tanzania which sells for 43,000 BIF per bag and “Tangote”, imported from Zambia, which sells for 41,000 BIF.
“It will be two weeks since I cannot find where to buy BUCECO cement. I will even have trouble getting the rent for this month of November. I cannot easily find clients for Tangote cements and Simba because their prices are not within the reach of consumers with average or low incomes “, indicated to the ABP a trader of the Asian district, on condition of anonymity.
The corroborating sources contacted in the various districts of the town hall of Bujumbura let it be known that the demand for BUCECO cement is currently far greater than the supply to such an extent that to be served, applicants register a few days before with wholesale traders. The few sellers and buyers of BUCECO cement contacted by ABP are asking for the effective involvement of officials from the Ministry in charge of Trade and those of the BUCECO company to put an end to that shortage.