In Burundi, several out-of-service public buses are parked at Otraco

According to Iwacu, several Burundian public institutions are letting their buildings and vehicles deteriorate for lack of maintenance. At the Ministry of the Interior, the condition of the premises contrasts with that of some neighbouring private homes, while at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rainwater stagnates in front of the buildings. In several ministerial compounds, out-of-service government cars remain parked for long periods. At the Public Transport Office (Otraco), several old out-of-service buses are parked on the premises, alongside a few buses still in working order but also in poor condition. The managing director of Otraco, when contacted, did not respond.

For Faustin Ndikumana, national director of the NGO Parcem, these infrastructure and equipment represent very costly investments for the state. Their poor maintenance amounts to a double loss: the investments deteriorate, and the assets no longer fully support production and public services. This leads to low economic returns and weak growth, which in turn fuel poverty. He cites as causes the mentality that public property belongs to no one, as well as corruption and impunity.

Residents share this view. A resident of Kamenge says he rarely sees Otraco buses running through the neighbourhoods or outside the country, and those he does see are in very poor condition. A resident of Nyakabiga considers that this situation represents a loss for the country, as state property is always poorly maintained.