Burundi Federal Chamber of Trade and Industry has recently received some fund to help former Bujumbura Central Market users. From BIF 500 thousand to 2 million will be given to each victim.-Diane Uwimana
Christian Nkengurutse: “As there are different types of victims, we are going to focus on those vulnerable ones whose starting capital was between BIF 500 thousand and 2million”.©Iwacu
Since the Bujumbura Central Market has burned, some countries through their embassies, institutions, companies, associations as well as some individuals have given some fund to help the victims. These latter are supposed to be helped following their turnover according to Econie Nijimbere, the Chairman of “CFCIB”: “more than BIF 100 million, 40 million, 10 million and less than five million Burundian Francs.” However, the contacted victims underline that they haven’t yet received any assistance up to now. N.N indicates that her colleagues and she have been identified many times but they haven’t got any feedback: “none of us has been assisted”. £ 67 500 ( about BIF 150 million) is an amount of fund that Burundi Federal Chamber of Trade and Industry (CFCIB) has received this last week from the French Cooperation in order to come to help the victims of Bujumbura Central Market. Christian Nkengurutse, the General Secretary of “CFCIB” indicates that this fund will be a credit guarantee one. “We are going to choose a microfinance bank which will work with them in order to generate other benefits”, says Nkengurutse. He goes on saying that victims will be chosen by the microfinance bank and a Committee composed of Central Market quarters’ Representatives. “As there are different types of victims, we are going to focus on those vulnerable ones whose starting capital was between BIF 500 thousand and 2million,” underlines the General Secretary of “CFCIB”. The microfinance bank will coach the victims how to use the money appropriately. Once, they get it, he mentions that the victims will reimburse step by step during one year so that it can help others afterwards.
“Everything will obviously be done transparently”
Econie Nijimbere, the Chairman of “CFCIB” notes that they are satisfied with the fund and calls upon other partners to give a hand to back those vulnerable traders. “More than 6000 traders who used the market stands, at least 300 of them will benefit from this fund,” points out Nijimbere. He indicates that once the microfinance bank will be set up, victims will address to it. “We trust the committee and different representatives of the stands and everything will obviously be done transparently. We hope that the credit will benefit the victims, especially women as gender will be strongly considered”, he indicates. Audace Bizabishaka, the Chairman of “Sygeco” Trade Union states that they are going to organize meetings to analyse how to work closely with “CFCIB”: “As any of us hasn’t got yet any kind of help, we hope that thanks to that microfinance bank, we will receive a financial support.” It is worth reminding that more than 3500 traders belong to the Trade Union.
Iwacu has tried to contact the Second Deputy Presidency in charge of managing the victims’ fund for more information, but in vain.
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