BUJUMBURA, April 4th (ABP) – The accumulation of rubbish near fruit and vegetable stalls can pose risks to public health, ABP found out on site during a visit to the market commonly known as COTEBU, on Wednesday 2 April 2025.Waste that has been left for a long time just a few meters from the fruit and vegetable stalls, with the resulting foul-smelling fumes, creates an unbearable atmosphere.
That waste can also contaminate food products, but it also exposes shopkeepers, shoppers and residents to health risks. All of which can seriously damage hygiene and public health.
The COTEBU market commissioner, Abba Daniel Abongegwa, indicated that cleaning was carried out regularly. But unfortunately, he pointed out that the lack of fuel poses a major logistical challenge. According to him, without fuel for the collection lorries, waste disposal becomes virtually impossible. The result is a visible accumulation of waste and a deterioration of the environment. He points out that the lack of fuel seems to be the main cause of waste management problems at the COTEBU market. On top of that, there is insufficient space for deportation and the Buterere landfill site is saturated.
The person in charge of waste disposal says that he is doing his best despite those difficulties. He points out that the lack of fuel remains a major obstacle. The market commissioner suggests composting waste as a promising solution, as that would reduce the volume of organic waste while creating a useful fertiliser for agriculture.