Ngozi market soon in metal

After several markets have burnt in different areas of the country, the Ngozi Administration has decided to rebuild its market in durable and metallic materials to prevent any fire incident.-Diane Uwimana

Ngozi market being rebuilt in metal ©Iwacu

Since this week, the Ngozi Administration has been working hard to rebuild the market kiosks and stands in durable materials. Wood is now forbidden in that market. “We try to move up all these wooden structures which are now being replaced with metallic ones”, says Melchiade Maniragaba, the Chairperson of the Technical Team which is in charge of the construction of Ngozi market.
Innocent Bigirimana, a seller of shoes in that market notes that the initiative is welcomed well by traders of that market but the cost of this innovation is very high. “Preventing our market from being burnt is very important as we know that someone who wants to overcome poverty, she/he often tries first in trade; we can’t deny moving up these wooden stands or kiosks which catch fire very easily. However, if you want to build a solid and durable kiosk, an amount of BIF two million must be paid, ” points out Bigirimana.

Nkeshimana, another trader of clothes indicates that his kiosk of 2m out of 2m will cost him BIF 700 thousand.
Hilaire Ndereyimana, the Chairperson of Ngozi Traders’ Association indicates that traders will respect the Administration decision even if it is very expensive. “It is for our own good. Other victims of the burnt markets are in bad situations, we must prevent any kind of fire as we endured this bad nightmare in 2006,” adds Ndereyimana.
Moreover, Ndereyimana also thanks the measure taken by the Administration to cancel temporarily communal taxes. “For the moment, we allot our money and time to the innovation of that market which will end on 13 August 2014”, underlines Ndereyimana.

Melchiade Maniragaba also expresses that the commission has in its mission to enlarge paths in the market to let pass fire trucks or fire engines in case there is a fire incident. He also states that they want to construct kiosks or stands which fulfil the standard norms of solidity and durability of a modern market.
It is reminding that since the Bujumbura central Market has burnt on 27th January 2013, more than ten markets around the country have caught fire and the reasons and causes are still ignored.