Consumers of BRARUDI, Burundi’s leading brewery, are raising concerns over the scarcity and rising prices of its beverages. The shortages, reportedly caused by speculation among merchants, have led to frustrations despite efforts by provincial authorities to curb the issue. Consumer advocacy group ABUCO urges the government to take stronger enforcement measures.
In Kayanza Province, northern Burundi, authorities responded by suspending the sale of BRARUDI beverages in bars charging inflated prices. This decision, made last week, seeks to combat speculation and protect consumers.
“Recently, there has been anarchy in the sale of BRARUDI beverages, where consumers face injustices due to price speculation,” said Governor Remy Cishahayo in a press statement on Sunday. He highlighted cases where bar owners presented dubious authorizations from the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) to justify price hikes. However, he clarified that the suspension does not apply to “VIP” hotels and bars, which are being reviewed to ensure compliance with licensing standards.
Across the country, consumers continue to express frustrations. In Mutambu Commune, Bujumbura Province, a resident lamented that a 72cl bottle of Primus beer, officially priced at 2,500 Burundian francs, is being sold for up to 5,000 francs.
ABUCO, a local organization advocating for consumer rights, has “greatly” appreciated the move by the governor of Kayanza Province and has encouraged him to extend this measure to other products previously mentioned by the Minister of the Interior, such as sugar, cement, and other essential items, in order to penalize merchants who have recently been setting prices in violation of government regulations.
“We take this opportunity to call on the population, particularly consumers, to report any behavior by merchants that violates the price rules set by public authorities,” said Pierre Nduwayo, head of ABUCO. He added: “We also encourage other provincial governors to follow the example of Kayanza Province’s governor by taking action against merchants who disregard the government’s fixed pricing on various products.”
Governor Cishahayo’s decision aligns with a directive from Interior Minister Martin Ninteretse, who recently urged local administrators to verify whether bars with licenses to charge higher prices for BRARUDI products meet the required conditions. The minister raised this issue during a meeting in Muramvya Province.
For years, BRARUDI has cited a lack of foreign currency to import raw materials as the primary reason for its production shortfalls. This supply gap has fueled price speculation and caused consumer dissatisfaction. In April 2024, parliamentarians also addressed the issue, according to local media.
This article has been updated to add the statement by ABUCO Chairman Pierre Nduwayo
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