Gitega : alcohol, a new scourge among women that threatens family cohesion

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, August 27, 2025 – In Gitega province, in central Burundi, a worrying phenomenon is growing : excessive alcohol consumption among women, including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. This social scourge weakens relationships, fuels domestic violence, and undermines the very foundations of the Burundian family.

In Masasu, in Gishora village, the situation is alarming. Strong drinks such as kicks, banana beer, and others called “Bangala” are now finding their way into the hands of women, sometimes at a very young age.

“We see mothers drinking while pregnant or breastfeeding,” says Rita Bukuri, an administration official at Masasu. This habit is considered alarming, compromising both maternal and newborn health.

Générose Muzihano, a resident of the village, observes that alcohol is causing an increase in marital conflicts. “Many women indulge in it, and it destroys families.” Some are humiliated, others beaten, and many sink into addiction, fueling a vicious cycle of poverty and domestic tensions.

Local authorities are concerned : “Most of the conflicts we resolve today revolve around alcohol,” continues Rita Bukuri. “It is mainly women who pay the price, through violence, marginalization, and the loss of family connections.”

This phenomenon is not isolated to Gitega. Similar cases have been reported in Bujumbura, Rumonge, and Cibitoke, where artisanal alcohol is sold at low prices and without health controls.

A heavy health and economic cost

Alcohol consumption among pregnant women is associated with miscarriages, premature births, and malnourished children. “We are seeing more and more cases of fragile children whose mothers were addicted to alcohol,” warns a nurse.

Economically, the money spent on these drinks deprives families of food and education for their children. Days lost to drunkenness lead to a drop in productivity, exacerbating household poverty.

In this corner of Gishora, the laughter of family gatherings is drowned out by shouting and nighttime arguments. “Almost no night goes by without hearing a couple fighting, and the cause is alcohol,” confides a resident.

For officials, this scourge threatens public health and social cohesion, calling for urgent measures to curb women’s access to these drinks and raise awareness of their silent ravages.