Photo of the week : for lack of Brarudi products, consumers resort to local wines

As in other provinces, finding Brarudi products in Bubanza province (western Burundi) is very difficult. In their place, bars use local wines with high alcohol content and at an unregulated price. Residents say they are overwhelmed by what is happening. They are asking the government to find a solution. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

In the bars of the Bubanza shopping center, no alcoholic drinks or beverages from the largest brewery in Burundi.

“Some bars have closed. Employees sent on unemployment. We have no choice,” lament bar owners.

With the situation, many people who earned their living through bars were impacted. This is the case of Florence*. She sold fries to accompany grilled meat in a bistro in Bubanza center.

“We are unemployed, what can I say? Our boss was unable to work. Without drinks, everything is blocked,” she says.

Use of local wines

With the shortage of Brarudi products, some bars resort to locally produced wines.

“To survive our business, we decided to use locally produced wines, but there are a lot of risks. Some of these wines are not certified, others have a very high alcohol content. It’s dangerous. for health, but we have no other choice,” say sellers who specify that the administration tolerates them.

SOS Médias Burundi was able to identify some of the “made in Burundi” wines mentioned. These include Susuruka, Sorora, Sapor, Mukambati,…

“In plastic bottles for some, they have an alcoholic volume of up to 16%,” noted our reporters.

Another problem, consumers are denouncing an increase in the purchase price for new products in bars.

“Misfortune does not come alone. The prices of these wines are increasing every day. The State should set and regulate the prices of these products,” consumers insist.

The situation in Bubanza is far from unique. Brarudi products are becoming rare in practically all localities in the country.

Economic experts warn that the closure of one of the country’s largest companies would be a huge loss for the economy of the small, already suffocated East African nation.

Our photo : a bar that closed its doors following the shortage of Brarudi products in Bubanza, April 2024