Traders who saw their stalls demolished because illegally built on the main axes, desperately seek where to put their goods.They hoped to take refuge in the central market but the owners of the stands praise them at exorbitant prices.

On paper, all stands and shops are all occupied and operated by their owners.But a small investigation is enough to discover that the so-called owners are neither traders nor traders.

They are dignitaries, authorities and other civil servants who have nothing to do with the trade that brings thousands of people to life in the city of Gitega.

To rent a 3 square meter shop, you have to pay a fortune each month.Some traders interviewed speak of theft of the public good."Traders are served for the benefit of dignitaries and many have more than two places in this market and exploit them as their private domains".

To rent, says Jean-Marie, a merchant for ten years at the central Gitega market, the prices of the stands vary from 50 thousand to 100 thousand bif."All places located on transverse or backbones are expensive and it is not anyone who can work there," he deplores.

According to him, you must have knowledge to have a place.He indicates that everyone knows that there are shenanigans."We tried to denounce these practices but no one wanted to listen to us".

When someone wants to get started and is looking for a stand, says Ildephonse, seller in this Gitega market, a commission agent is needed to establish contact with the owner of the stand."You have to get upset to pay taxes using its name, respect the contract clauses and the case is concluded and when someone wants to buy a stand, you have to be able to guarantee anonymity and it is more or less 10 millionBurundian francs to pay ”.

Another trader reveals that there is not even an official document.He claims to have paid a sum of 15 million to have his stand.He admits that he did not change the name of the first owner.

"No one has come to complain!"»»

Apart from the former traders accustomed to these maneuvers, the newcomers are on the nerves.According to the latter, it is inconceivable that a group of people manages the market as their personal property."It is difficult to understand how someone has 5 stands in one market because he is deputy or I don't know what.It is the organized flight.Things have to change ”.

According to these traders, the market must come back to those who exercise this job.They appeal to a general census of traders working in this place."You have to know the real holders of the stands.There are some who do not pay tax or tax ».

Contacted, the Gitega central market authorities did not want to confirm or deny the words of these traders.According to these authorities, as no one has ever come to complain, it will be difficult to find a solution.

"I cannot answer these kinds of questions, our work consists in checking that taxes are collected properly.If we find that order and cleanliness are respected and that no one complains, we tell ourselves that everything is fine, "said the main commissioner of the market.