Almost all traders of Makamba province in the south of the country are importing goods from Tanzania. With Burundi’s integration into the East African Community, traders and the administration are pleased with the free movement of goods and persons. But they say some issues still need to be resolved.
<doc5094|right>“Before, every trader or other person who wanted to pay a visit to Tanzania or to import something from there needed to pay 20 USD at the Tanzanian border in order to get in. But now, with Burundi’s integration into the East African Community, these fees are avoided and we can get in without problems because of the free movement of goods and persons,” says a trader met at Makamba Market, who preferred his name not be mentioned. He adds visas are also avoided. “If you have the authorized documents, Tanzania Revenue Authority does nothing to you, you just present your papers to them, and you get back on the way easily. Besides, products from Tanzania are sold at a lower price than Burundian ones, » he says.
According to him, Burundi’s integration into the EAC comes at a good time. “With this free movement agreement, our country can be developed as well as our neighbour countries. As we go there, citizens from Tanzania also come here without any problems,” he emphasizes.
N.N is another trader in Mabanda commune, who imports his goods from Tanzania. He mentions not only that fees paid at the Tanzanian border are avoided but also a visit pass doesn’t exist anymore. According to him, EAC citizens must combine their efforts in order to benefit in the same time frame.
“Well begun is half done?”
According to both of the traders, there are some issues that can be resolved in order to compete with others from the partner states of the EAC. “When we cross Kabanga or Kobero borders to Tanzania with a car, the movement is free. But when we cross Manyovu border to Kigoma (crossing Mabanda commune), we must pay for it. For a small private car, 10000 Burundian francs, and 30000 Burundian francs for a lorry.” In their views, every Burundian must make an effort to compete with others. “We can’t achieve anything without engaging efforts to interact with others. Almost all of the traders know the Kiswahili language but they don’t know English, which is also vehicular in this community.” For them, the government must do something for them in order to compete without any difficulties. “Well begun is half done? If our country really wants to be integrated like others, it must make efforts to resolve some issues and Burundian citizens could be developed as well as the country.”
<doc5095|right>“With integration, Makamba has changed its look”
According to information from Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) in Mabanda, traders have gained many things from Burundi’s integration into the EAC. “Goods and persons get in freely, visas and the visit pass are avoided, and only officially permitted documents are presented,” said an OBR agent. The same sources mention fees paid at the entrance of the Tanzanian border are also avoided. “It has taken six months to tell our neighbour to drop them. Only Burundian citizens pay (the fees) while Tanzanians get in generously.” According to the Mabanda OBR, crossing Kabanga or Kobero border with a car, a person can enter freely. But crossing Manyovu to Kigoma, some fees are levied. “Before, only Burundians paid but we realize that Tanzanians also must pay five (Tanzanian) shillings(BIF 7500) per car to get into Burundi.” The information from Mabanda OBR explains those fees are paid at Manyovu border only because it is a small border. “TRA said they were looking for equipment for the border crossing.”
According to the OBR agent, collaboration is needed between Tanzanian and Burundian administrations to facilitate their citizens’ free movement. “Non- tariff barriers must be eliminated if the administrators want to continue being good neighbours.” The agent indicates all goods sold at Makamba are coming from Tanzania. Hence, Burundi’s integration into the EAC is very important to Makamba citizens.
Vincent Niyubahwe, Makamba governor, says before Burundi’s integration into the EAC, fraud had been gaining ground. “Tanzanian traders brought their goods with lorries to the Burundian borders and Burundians waited for them in order to load from there, but since integration everything has changed. Goods pass in the officially authorized way. Even if people didn’t know very well about community laws and OBR ones, little by little they analyse and things will go on very well,” he hopes. “If you try to go through all of Makamba’s shops, goods are the same. They are from Tanzania.” explains Niyubahwe.
Niyubahwe says he and his counterpart in Kigoma try to remain good neighbours in order to keep an eye on what happens in their area.
