Campaign against high cost of living claims inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue

Burundian campaign against the high cost of living has written to Benjamin Mkapa, the Burundian mediator on 28 December 2017, requesting an inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue as a solution to different problems caused by political instability and economic crisis in Burundi.

Gabriel Rufyiri,OLUCOME Chairman and Spearhead of the campaign against high cost of living in Burundi.

The campaign, spearheaded by Gabriel Rufyiri, OLUCOME Chairman, says Burundian economic crisis is caused by selfish political leaders who are greedy for power and riches. It speaks of different consequences of the economic crisis.

The first is the negative economic growth rate of 4.1percent in 2015 against 4.7percent in 2014.This reduction in domestic production affects the per capita income, which was USD 315.2 in 2015, according to the International Monetary Fund-FMI and USD 260 according to the World Bank.

The second consequence is the rise of prices of sensitive products. The example is that of beans.A kilogram of beans which cost BIF 800 in April 2015 is nowadays bought at BIF 2000, i.e. 150 percent increase. The campaign also mentions the increase in the prices of sugar, BRARUDI products, airtimes, fuel, water and electricity.

The third consequence of the economic crisis is tax increases. The campaign against the high cost of living gives an example of bicycle riders who are asked to pay BIF 2000 each at Bujumbura City council whereas they hardly earn BIF 1500 per day.

The campaign calls on Benjamin Mkapa, the facilitator in the Burundian crisis to organize an urgent inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue that would take place outside Burundi. It says the exclusion of some people in the dialogue may hamper the reaching of a credible and lasting resolution to the current crisis.
It also invites all politicians to attend the external and inclusive dialogue which is the only way to get Burundi out of the crisis which has started since April 2015 when Burundi President decided to run for a third controversial term in office.

The campaign claims that economy and governance issues should be emphasized to study how Burundian wealth should be achieved and distributed fairly.

The Burundian campaign against the high cost of living includes three organizations namely the Centre for Fight against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement in Burundi-OLUCOME , Citizen Movement for  Burundian Future-MCA, and Organization for Transparency and Governance-OTRAG.