Gitega central market remains vulnerable to rain
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Iwacu
Illustrative image · B · Licence PexelsAuthorities demolished illegal structures at Gitega’s central market and cleared access routes to facilitate the intervention of fire engines. However, the removal of many stalls leaves traders exposed to rain and disrupts their business, reports Iwacu.
The reorganisation of Gitega’s central market, which led to the demolition of commercial structures and the reopening of access routes, has left a large proportion of vendors exposed to rain. Traders have to close their stalls as soon as rainfall begins and say their business has declined, Iwacu reports.
Administrative authorities, police and traders’ representatives ordered the removal of installations that prevented emergency vehicles from reaching the market’s different sections. Several vendors say they sacrificed investments made to build or protect their stalls to avoid expropriation.
At Magarama market, located a few kilometres away, the reorganisation is also fuelling concern. This privately owned, fully covered space, frequented in particular by former street vendors with small amounts of capital, could attract the interest of bigger traders from the central market, according to Iwacu.
