Gitega : the devastating effects of the shortage of Brarudi drinks

The entire work chain related to drinks at the Burundi Brewery Company (Brarudi) is heavily affected by the shortage of these drinks. They range from the truck unloader to the bistro manager via the skewer seller. Everyone is struggling and says they are living in an untenable situation. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Athanase Ndikumana, 45 years old, originally from Gitamo village in the Gitega district and province, unloads Brarudi trucks delivering drinks to a large so-called mega depot. He can no longer meet the needs of his family.

“I feed my seven children and my wife thanks to my work as an unloader. I could earn between 6,000 and 10,000 Burundi francs per day. At least three to four trucks brought these Brarudi products per week. But now three weeks have gone without any truck. It’s a hassle,” he regrets.

Same story with Emmanuel Nzeyimana, 30 years old, manager of a bar located on the 1st avenue in the Nyamugari neighborhood of the town of Gitega, who indicates that his marriage plan could fall through.

“It is difficult for me to pay the rent, the food ration. For three weeks, I have not been served with Brarudi products. The consequences are enormous. As a bistro manager, I even risk closing and losing my job while I was planning to get married soon”, he laments.

Léonidas Ngendanzi, 33 years old, a skewer seller in a bistro in the Nyamugari neighborhood, also laments.

“For quite a while, no bottles have been available in several bars. When customers cannot find Brarudi products, they do not buy skewers. We are working at a loss. I even fear having to stop this activity which was the only one to generate income for my family,” he confides.

Following this long shortage of Brarudi products, the prices that were set by the government of Burundi are no longer respected. Everyone sets their price as they wish.

Thus, a bottle of Amstel 65 cl easily costs from 3000 to 7000 or even 10,000 francs. A bottle of Primus 72 cl from 2,200 to 5,000 francs, an Amstel 50 cl from 2,600 francs to 4,000, the small Primus 50 cl from 1,700 to 3,500 francs. A Bock from 2,600 to 3,500 francs, and the Royale beer from 3,100 to 5,000 francs.

The chief of the urban zone of ​​Gitega, Hussein Butoyi, deplores the fact that some bistro owners require customers to eat meat so that they are served with Brarudi products.

He announced that a permanent provincial commission had been set up to ensure that prices were respected.

Hussein Butoyi indicates that traders who engage in speculation are punished with fines.