The downward review of the price of beef is not respected at the market “Bujumbura City Market” commonly called “Chez Sion”. Same thing at Ngagara II market says Cotebu. The price of a kilo of boneless beef (umusoso) is sold between 13,000 FBu and 14,000 FBu. In addition, a kilo of beef with bone (cangacanga) costs FBu 11,000. The butchers explain that the supply of beef is expensive for them.
The butchers ask the government to understand their grievances. They are calling for a meeting with the administrators to seek a lasting solution to this problem.
It is 10:30 a.m. when reporters from the Burundi Eco newspaper head for the “Bujumbura City Market”. The butchers met there indicate that currently the price of a kilo of beef varies between 13,000 FBu and 14,000 FBu for boneless meat (umusoso). Also, meat with bone (cangacanga) costs 11,000 FBu. This price difference is also evident in the Ngagara II market, known as “Cotebu”. The butchers explain that it depends on where they get their supplies. Oxen are expensive. This is the situation when the municipal administrators have fixed the price of boneless meat (umusoso) at 11,000 FBu per kilo. In addition, a kilo of meat with bone (cangacanga) must be bought at 10,000 FBu.
“We cannot sell beef at the same price with other butchers who do not travel to get supplies. The price of a kilo of meat is supplied between 9700 FBu and 10,000 FBu. The beef is moved to 20,000 FBu. We must also pay the monthly rent of the place in which we work without forgetting the taxes. If we sell for 11,000 FBu for boneless meat, it’s a big loss for us,” says a butcher we met at the Cotebu market..
Butchers mourn
After the adoption of the law on permanent stabling and the ban on the straying of domestic animals by the National Assembly on October 4, 2021, the number of cows on the market decreased and their cost exploded.
“We cannot contradict a measure taken by the State, but before taking and implementing the measure concerning the sale of meat at the same price throughout the country, the State should have fixed the price of the cow on the market where we get our supplies”, adds a butcher met at the market “Bujumbura City Market” commonly called “Chez Sion”.
He adds that the butchers do not work as they should since the price of meat has been revised downwards. In addition, one of them was imprisoned following selling a kilo of boneless meat for 13,000 FBu. The butchers ask the government to understand their grievances. They are calling for a meeting with the administrators to seek a lasting solution to this problem.
Previously, the cost of meat with bone (cangacanga) was at 12,000 FBu while this meaning, the price of meat without bone (umusoso) varied between 14,000 FBu and 15,000 FBu.