In addition to other expenses related to their business, traders working in the various markets and galleries in Bujumbura town hall are forced to add the cost of access to toilets. These costs are considered an excess expense by those concerned. For some of them, charging for such a basic need is unfair.
In addition to stand rental costs, traders working in the various markets and galleries in Bujumbura town hall are forced to pay an amount ranging from 200 to 500 FBu to access the toilets.
We are at the Kinama market. As usual, the traders are early. Before starting their work, they prepare in every way to maximize working time. Put away the different items, have breakfast for those who can afford it, but also go to the toilets for some. Yes, the body needs it.
The restrooms are not far from the stands. Besides, in this market, there are three. “So that anyone who wants to go there can find one not far from where they are,” explains Idi Kaunda, commissioner of this market. An initiative to make things easier for those in need, yes, but it is not as easy as that. In front of these toilets divided into two, one part for men and another for women, Gad Ntirampeba is sitting. As he tells it, just like for the other stands, he rents these toilets for 200 thousand FBu. For more than 10 years, he has been doing this business. He hired a person to clean and he takes care of the cash register.
A livelihood for some, a burden for others
Each time a person uses these toilets, he must pay 200 FBu. An amount that may seem trivial to a passerby who pays this amount once or twice a week. But what about those who spend most of their time in this market and have to pay these relief fees every time they visit this toilet? According to some studies, a normal body uses toilets on average 6 to 8 times a day. And there we are already at 1600 FBu. And if we reduce this time over 30 days, it becomes 48,000 FBu per month which is added to other daily expenses such as food, rental of stands, hygiene costs, to name just a few. Not to mention the cases of pregnant women, diabetics, etc. who are forced to drink a lot of water and drink it back. As much as they frequent these places, they will pay for these needs.
A trader who confided in us said that she has already gotten used to it not out of conviction, but out of compulsion. “It doesn’t bother me anymore. I know there’s nothing I can do about it, so it’s better not to think about it,” she says.
One expense too many
The situation is no different in Bujumbura City Market commonly called Chez Sion. In total, there are five restrooms scattered in every corner of this market. Among these are VIP toilets, access to which costs 500 FBu each time they are requested. Access to ordinary toilets costs 200 FBu. But there is an option to take out a monthly subscription and pay 10 thousand FBu regardless of the number of times you use these toilets.
MD is a trader at this market. She does not understand why she is being made to pay for such a basic need when she rents a stand in this same market. According to this lady, just as you cannot rent a house without toilets, you cannot rent a stand in a market without having access to toilets. This mother considers these costs to be one too many expenses. “We are tired, the prices of the stands are increasing, for example, I rent this stand for 250 thousand FBu. Every time I bring my car here, I pay 1000 FBu as parking fees, not to mention catering costs and other business-related expenses. And add the relief costs… in the end, we are working at a loss,” she laments.
As explained by Joseph Dukundane, commissioner of this market, this money is collected not for commercial purposes, but rather to be able to maintain these places of comfort through daily cleaning or emptying if necessary. “You all know how Burundians minimize free public goods. We saw fit to charge them an insignificant amount,” he explains. Note that Bujumbura City Market is made up of between 2800 and 3000 stands.
However, this attitude is not without consequences
As another trader working at BCM testified, for fear of these daily expenses, some start to do their little needs in plastic bottles and wait for everyone to return to pour them into the gutters erected in front of the stands. “By bad faith? Perhaps, but we cannot condemn them for that. It happens that we spend a whole day here without any customers. So how are we going to relieve ourselves without any money? “, he asks himself. This phenomenon worries these traders who fear for their health.
In the different galleries in downtown Bujumbura, the procedure is the same. The cost of access to the toilets is 200 FBu per visit. But unlike the previously mentioned markets, in the Village Market gallery, the toilet is shared for men and women. One more reason for Mrs. NG, a trader in this gallery, to abstain from this need as much as she can. According to her, the principle is simple, “I drink a little water to be able to last as long as possible. This allows me to prevent infections, but also not to pay these fees every day,” she says. Not spending money yes, but would abstaining from this need and lacking water in your body have no consequences on human life?
According to Dr Aimable Ndayizamba, holding back when you want to urinate can cause many complications to human health. He cited in particular the appearance of kidney stones which can obstruct the urinary tract and other more serious complications.
#Burundi #Eco #Toilet #access #fees #expense