Burundi gives traders new market, two years after costly fire

Women sell fruits and vegetables on a street in Bujumbura on June 5, 2013 after the main market was razed to the ground during an inferno four months prior. PHOTO | ESDRAS NDIKUMANA |  AFP

By HAVYARIMANA MOSES
In Summary

• 2,552 - The number of traders accommodated in the new market from 5,640 traders registered in 2013.

Burundi has finally handed over a new market to traders who lost their property in a fire disaster two years ago. 

“Traders in this market will not pay tax for a period of six months in order to help them restart their businesses,” said Burundi’s second vice president Gervais Rufyikiri.

In 2013, Bujumbura experienced a devastating blow to its economy when a massive fire destroyed the country’s largest market. Only five per cent of the more than 5,000 traders had insured their businesses.

Bujumbura’s central market accommodated more than five thousand traders dealing mainly in food stuffs, warehousing materials, new and second-hand clothes.

International organisations and the East African Community helped contribute $50,000 for the construction of the new market, while other partners and donors contributed an estimated 1.6 billion francs, The African Development bank gave $500,000 to help build the new market, which occupies two-and-a-half hectares. 

Registered traders

Of the 5,640 traders that were registered in 2013, the new market was only able to accommodate 2,552 traders who already had contracts with the Bujumbura Central Market Management Company.

Most of the traders who lost their property in the fire outbreak opened small shops on the outskirts of Bujumbura while others have remained jobless. Many of the traders kept their money in the market instead of depositing in banks and so they lost their savings and property.

The secretary-general of Burundi’s Chamber of Commerce Nkengurutse Christian said traders were still struggling to raise the capital needed to restart their businesses.