Always under the threat of being chased away or being relocated far from Magarama, small traders have found a suitable place within their means under the impulse of the natives of this district. They are called Baningas (name taken from Lingala which means brothers, friends, comrades – Some of their grandparents worked in the former Zaire). These natives of Magarama, through their
Always under the threat of being chased away or being relocated far from Magarama, small traders have found a suitable place within their means under the impulse of the natives of this district.
They are called Baningas (name taken from Lingala which means brothers, friends, comrades – Some of their grandparents worked in the former Zaire). These natives of Magarama, through their association Badima (Baningas for the integral development of Magarama) have just set up a market in their neighborhood.
It is on the 2nd avenue that the sellers of vegetables, bananas, cassava, potatoes, fruits and other foodstuffs quietly sell their products without fear of being hunted incessantly. In a plot of 11.34 ares fenced, lit and supplied with drinking water and with sanitary facilities, 404 traders sell their goods until 8 p.m. and leave their goods on site under the care of watchmen and market guards. According to them, this relocation in this market is beneficial. They were at all times disturbed on the 1st avenue next to the Gitega-Bujumbura road.
“Each time a high authority passed by, the police ordered us to get out, leaving our goods at the mercy of thieves and street children”, says Marie-Josée Munezero, shopkeeper. For her, it’s a sigh of relief since traders are no longer threatened with relocation far from neighborhoods. Everyone has their stand, which was not the case in the old market square.
For these traders, although they pay 7,500 Fbu to the shareholders and the municipality per month, this money is well justified. They say that working in a clean place, with clean sanitary facilities and above all without interruption of electricity and water from Regideso should cost a lot more. Without denying that they are comfortable in this place called Badima mini-market, these men and women ask that the whole market be covered to shelter from the sun and the rain. They also want rows of stalls to be commodity-specific. According to them, tomato sellers should line up in one row, vegetable sellers in another row and so on.
Everyone finds his account
For the population of Magarama, this mini-market avoids long journeys to go to the central market. Everything is there and often cheaper. Instead of going downtown to buy 500 Fbu tomatoes or eggplants, just send a child to race Magarama and the meal is served on time with less expense.
“In this period when travel is expensive, this mini-market is very profitable for many people. Whether you are from Yoba, Gahera or Nyamugari district, this market is closer. It opens early and closes late”, says Louis de Gahera. As for the shareholders, it is the same feeling of satisfaction. Not only do they claim to have invested in something beneficial, but they also claim that they have saved the image of their neighborhood. “It was still dirt, that 1st Avenue market put us to shame. In addition to having provided our neighborhood with a market, we have spared debauchery for our daughters, who do not have the means to do business in the city center or to rent shops”, confides Béatrice Manirambona, one of the shareholders. Same story with Jean Marie Ndikumana, who gave up his plot for the construction of this market. According to him, the important thing was to show, by a concrete example, that unity is strength.
“This mini-market was born from a consensus of the local administration and the natives of Magarama for the development of our commune in general and our neighborhood in particular. We are sure that we will end up with something great and beneficial for all of us like our Badima association”he explained this main shareholder.
