For more than a week, the Ministry of Commerce, Transport, Industry and Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, Community Development and Public Security, has banned all commercialization of juices made from ginger. According to the two ministries, these juices are harmful to human health. Traders encountered in different corners of the capital Bujumbura do not know where to turn.

Jeanne Kabirigi is a trader located in the Kinama zone who sells ginger-based juice. This business is what allows her to meet her needs, and stopping its commercialization is a headache. She emphasizes that she has invested substantial capital in this business and claims that she continues to sell these prohibited juices despite their ban.

For now, she prays every morning to God that the stock will be depleted. She specifies that once the police seize these non-alcoholic beverages, she does not see how she will be able to continue feeding her children and paying their school fees.

She is demanding compensation equivalent to the cost of purchasing the juices still in stock. The juices in the stock amount to two million five hundred thousand BIF. Throwing this capital into the trash would be an unspeakable loss. Mrs. Jeanne cannot understand how companies that produce juices are born and grow in full view of the administrative authorities. She wonders why the State does not prevent the establishment of these companies from the start, but in the end it is always the citizens who must be the victims.

The capital invested in juices is borrowed from banks

A trader from the Muha commune encountered in the city center specifies that the local administration seized more than 100 cartons from his shop. The loss is enormous. He says that obtaining new capital to invest in other projects will take a long time. The capital invested in juices is borrowed from banks. Today, he does not see the means to repay this loan.

Wilson Kabura, a ginger juice consumer encountered in Ngagara, makes it known that consuming ginger juice is very pleasant for them. He explains that ginger juices cost less compared to other beverages. He emphasizes that his means do not allow him to buy other drinks.

The decision to suspend the commercialization of juice made from ginger was made after a remark from the Burundi Standards and Control Bureau (BBN), that these beverages do not comply with sanitary and hygienic standards in their manufacture. The timeframe granted to sell off their stocks expired last week.

On Saturday, October 22, the ministry in charge of commerce, in collaboration with the ministry of Interior, Community Development and Public Security, held an exchange meeting with workers in the field of transformation industry in Burundi. It was concluded that all transformation units that are not in order by October 28, 2022, must close their doors to get their affairs in order before any operation.

Pacifique Gahama