BUJUMBURA, February 21st (ABP) – Residents of the Kajiji neighborhood, Kizingwe area, Muha commune (south of the city of Bujumbura), deplore the lack of drinking water from REGIDESO, a check on the site on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 by ABP has revealed.
REGIDESO pipes have been installed, but residents disclosed that water rarely appears, at least once a month. They revealed that this problem has been observed for at least 3 years, stressing that to remedy this, they use rainwater and that of the Kizingwe River for household chores, and that they go to other remote neighborhoods to buy drinking water while paying at least 500 BIF per 20-liter can.
Regarding the two taps for drilling water (Amazi water) set up in that area to try to deal with this problem, the residents indicated that they are not sufficient, given the number of residents living in the area. They instead ask REGIDESO to find a solution to this problem before the summer period, because they indicate that in the event of summer, the situation becomes worse.
Elvis Hamenyimana, one of these residents, points out that the water from the Kizingwe River is much polluted, but that they use it because they have no other choice.
He indicates that some people bathe in the river, while others are fetching water from it. According to him, the residents of Kizingwe are exposed to the risks of diseases linked to the lack of hygiene.
He sounds the alarm by calling for the supply of drinking water to Kizingwe, for the welfare of the population from the locality.
Responding to complaints from the population on this issue, Ferdinand Minani, leader of the Kajiji neighborhood, reassured the population that a State project in collaboration with the World Bank through REGIDESO has been set up to supply Kizingwe with abundant drinking water.
He also specified that the land studies have already been done, adding that the plots where the water tanks will be installed have been purchased, in order to facilitate the population in the supply of drinking water.
Minani also indicates that the Kajiji neighborhood has more than 20 water leaks, which is another problem for the water supply and a danger for the roads. He said, in this regard, that steps are underway to stop these leaks.
He called on the population to stop using water from the Kizingwe River to fight against hygiene-linked diseases.