Jabe Market: a tiny space for refuse

Jabe market traders accuse Bwiza Administrator of having usurped the place of waste. Long ago, all wastes were thrown into an area located in the western part of Jabe Market, at Bwiza Commune in Bujumbura City Council.-By Diane Uwimana

Four bins used for rubbish collection.©Iwacu

“When I was eight, I saw trash being thrown at that area”, remembered E. I., a mother of 37 years old. For the moment, it is no longer the case: a solid house is being finalized. Traders say that it belongs to Ms. Esperance Ngerageze, the Administrator of Bwiza Commune. «It belongs to her and at this moment, there is no longer a place to put trash,” points out a vegetable seller, near the former area of refuse. At that market, especially in the western part, there is a very bad smell. Many of the remains of avocadoes, vegetables, tomatoes, and small fish… rotten are thrown into the gutter. Flies are swarming everywhere. However, in the northern part, in front of Interbank, four bins are installed there. Unfortunately, as indicated by a bicycle repairman met on that area, they are very small. “In less than two days, they are completely filled. And SETEMU vehicles (Technical Services of Bujumbura City Council) do not come regularly for rubbish collection,” complains the repairman.
For him, the Bujumbura City Council Authority should seek another place for the waste. He mentions that apart from the place’s rent, the municipal tax amounts to BIF 6,000 per month (BIF 200 per day) for each seller in that market. Those who work around that market fear about the hygienic conditions for their health.
Some of them accuse the Bwiza Administrator of being the source of this situation. However, others are afraid of expressing their attitudes or viewpoints: “it is the government which is responsible. For the moment, things are complicated”, shyly says a vegetable seller. When contacted, Ms. Espérance Ngerageze, the Bwiza Administrator explains: “the place belongs to the government. I received it like any other Burundian citizen and no one can prevent me from building a house. About the refuse, it hasn’t any link with the place”.
This is confirmed by Amisi Ntangibingura, Director General of the Town Planning, the Administrator got the place from the government, and she has the right to build in that place.