Cibitoke : vertiginous increase in the price of all basic necessities

A price increase of basic necessities has been observed in all the districts of the Cibitoke province (northwest Burundi) for almost a month. The populations are worried about this situation and are asking the government to remedy it. The governor of Cibitoke warns speculators. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Across the 6 districts of this province and despite the relative availability of fuel observed in recent days, there has been a surge in the price of all items, starting with food products.

In less than a month, the price of a kilo of cow meat has gone from 16,000 to 20,000 Burundi francs.

The same goes for beans, rice and potatoes, where the kilo costs 4,500 francs for the first 2 products and 2,800 francs for the last, respectively, while the cost for the same quantity of these 3 products was 2,800, 3,000 and 1,800 francs respectively.

Residents, in disarray, are asking the government to resort to international assistance and especially to open land borders with Rwanda and to strengthen trade with the DR Congo across the Rusizi River to promote free movement of goods and people.

Most of these residents contacted deplore the sharp drop in their purchasing power.

They admit that they are now unable to buy supplies at the market and are just eat once a day.

Carême Bizoza, governor of Cibitoke, admits this situation and speaks rather of speculation on the part of traders and invites the population to denounce them through a toll-free number made available to them.

This authority specifies that these acts aim to sabotage efforts of the administration and warns against speculators and threatens them with severe sanctions in accordance with the law.