Fuel shortage hits Bujumbura, motorists blame government
In Bujumbura, another gas shortage is inflicting havoc. several gasoline stations have run dry. some are turning away their clients. Many Burundians are going across the city in search of an unprecedented commodity.
Muslims walk after performing the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan in Bujumbura, Burundi, on May 13, 2021. Burundi has not restricted people.
Reluctant to speak brazenly, they are saying that that is a double loss.
"I am very tired. To get a few litters, I just went through five stations. It's really difficult. We need to find a lasting solution to this fuel issue. We are frustrated because we are obliged to waste fuel while looking for fuel," a motorist lamented.
The outcomes are already visible in public transportation, especially inside the evening and in the course of rush hour. The Burundian consumer association also voiced its worries.
"Fuel has a very important role in the life of the whole country. It has an impact in many areas. We are concerned that this shortage will lead to the absence of nearly all products like food. There are a lot of risks at hand," Pierre Nduwayo, head of the consumer association said.
The government then again blames the supply chain.
"The quantity of fuel and petroleum products in stock, current imports and products on order are sufficient at the national level. The apparent shortage that is observed on the territory is the result of some failures in the supply circuit¨," Leonida Sindayigaya, spokesperson to the Ministry of Water, Energy and Mines revealed.