BUJUMBURA August 29th (ABP) – Those responsible for Bujumbura City Market (BCM) commonly called ‘Kwa Siyoni’ located in Bujumbura City Council (Industrial Neighborhood, avenue de l’OUA), held a press conference on Monday August 28, 2023 to explain the root causes of the rise in stand prices in that market.
According to the administrative and financial director (DAF) at BCM, Mrs. Carine Kamikazi, a review of the stand prices has been made to the extent that a stand which was at 472 thousand BIF will be rented 708 thousand BIF for the new tariffs, from September 2023. She indicated that the price of the stand is set taking into account its dimensions and its location and that this increase in the price of the stands was motivated by the recent reforms in terms of payment of taxes and duties.
Previously, BCM paid income tax and current reforms require paying rental tax. She also clarified that in accordance with the general increase in prices, the materials used in the development, sanitation, security and other needs for the proper functioning of the market, also cause the increase in the prices of the stands.
Mrs. Kamikazi took that opportunity to point out that a meeting to explain and discuss that stand price increase measure was held on August 10, 2023 for traders working in that market and that the measure is set so that traders do not work losing because they are BCM’s customers; in their absence, the stands will no longer have reason to exist. She invited any trader who has questions to join her office for clarification. Traders working in that market that a check by ABP was able to contact said that they did not welcome the measure of the increase in stand prices.
Thus, they declared: “At the meeting held on August 10, 2023 with the managers of that market, we pleaded for the revision of the measure because the price has risen in such a way that we will not be able to cover our expenses because we see that they have multiplied by two. A stand that was at 200 thousand BIF will be paid 400 thousand BIF; the one that was at 708,000 BIF will be paid 1,367,000 BIF. We also can’t double the price of our goods, we can’t receive customers, and complaints from our customers will immediately arise”. They ask those in charge of Bujumbura City Market to be open to dialogue and see how to regulate the prices of the stands so that the owner of the market and the traders work without losing. “We also ask the government of Burundi to play the role of mediation to reach a lasting solution,” they concluded. Abp/ Denis NTIHINDAGIZWA