After the Bujumbura Central Market burning on 27th January 2013, the Government has decided to build a temporary market on Cotebu ground. Even though, the construction is in progress, the Sygeco (Traders Trade Union) doesn’t know much about the beneficiaries.
<doc7455|left>The temporary market will be located in Ngagara Commune, in an area of 1, 8 ha and is divided into four parties separated by a crossroads.
According to Paul Mpawenimana, the Managing Director of Setemu “Services Techniques Municipaux ” and the Official in Charge of the work activities of the market, more than 50% of the work have already been done: “ Cleaning and transportation of rubbish, compacting the ground with laterite, displaying and adjusting work , constructing gutters for rain water have already been completed”, he indicates.
He mentions that the construction of stalls with metal frame and other buildings (administrative blocks, toilets, sick rooms, a bank office and a police station) without forgetting the stall paving are almost over.
The Engineer in Charge of the construction reminds that it only remains to strengthen the existing closing fence and improve the car parking station.
It is worth recalling that Gervais Rufyikiri, the Second Deputy President, launched the building activities on 30th January 2013 and indicated that all activities would take only one month.
However, Paul Mpawenimana mentions that they have faced some challenges when they are building.
“At the beginning of the activities, there were sudden climate changes which have compelled us to work hastily. There were also conflicts on the laterite extraction site (the population owner refusing to let their site be exploited), and the lack of material and administrative equipment”, points out Mpawenimana.
He continues to state that the depreciation of the Burundian franc has pushed the service providers to withdraw fearing to fall bankrupt. This situation has often caused to lack materials permanently.
The construction of the market has required the deployment of 215 units of workers(builders and their assistants, ironworkers, welders, and topographers (52% among them were women).
Without giving exactly the number of stands and beneficiaries, the Managing Director indicates that activities will end after about three weeks if the budget is available .
“Sygeco is not aware of what is going on”
The former Bujumbura Central Market burning was composed of 2500 stands and 3500 users and members of the Sygeco (Traders Trade Union). It was also an umbrella of local and foreign international tenants. 99% of the latter have lost their goods and money. For a pending solution, the Government has decided to manage a temporary market which will be constructed on the Cotebu ground.
However, the Bujumbura Central Market users are worried as they are not quite sure if they are going to have stands in that market.
According to Bizabishaka Audace, the Chairman of Sygeco, to get a place in the temporary market remains a perplexing issue. “Traders who were taking part in the commission in charge of dispatching places to the beneficiaries have recently resigned. Reason? The required conditions were jugded impossible by victims of the tragic incident,”
The Sygeco Chairman has said that anyone who is going to receive a place must have had an identification registration number, paid tax duties and been in conformity with Sogemac, the "Market Management Company".
“These conditions are unacceptable to the victims who have almost lost all their goods and money in the market”, claims Bizabishaka.
Regarding what is happening, Bizabishaka suggests that a dialogue between Sygeco and the Government should be carried out perefectly to draw the same conclusion.
“We have written a letter to the Second Deputy President that we are ready to negotiate and contribute to any good issue that will help build the new temporary and fix distribution modalities of the new places. If it is not possible, let’s appoint an impartial mediator or address to CNIDH " The National Commission in Charge of Human Rights, ” he concludes.
