The administration and butchers in Gitega initially reached an agreement setting the price of boneless meat at 28,000 FBu per kilo and meat with bone at 20,000 FBu per kilo. Within a few days, market prices in Gitega returned to 30,000 FBu for boneless meat and 22,000 FBu for meat with bone. Butchers cited external market pressures for the price shift. "Nous ne fixons pas les prix par plaisir de gagner beaucoup d’argent sur le dos de nos clients," the butchers stated. "C’est la loi de l’offre et de la demande. Si les bêtes deviennent moins chères, les commerçants de Bujumbura viennent en masse pour tout rafler."
Consumer Frustration Over Deception
Consumers in Gitega have expressed widespread frustration regarding the integrity of meat sales during the brief period when price agreements were in effect. Reports indicate that butchers utilized rigged scales to provide customers with only 0.750kg of meat instead of the agreed-upon full kilogram. Bruce Bigirimana stated, "Même pendant cette baissé éphémère, les balances étaient trafiquées. Ils feintaient de mettre en exécution les conventions mais au lieu de te vendre un kilogramme, ils te donnaient en réalité 0,750kg."
Zainabu Kamikazi, a mother in the Magarama neighborhood, described the experience as deceptive, remarking, "C’est une moquerie pure et simple." Other residents noted a recurring pattern of market manipulation. Astère Nihorimbona said, "Chaque année, c’est le même scenario. Les bouchers dictent leur loi et influencent tous les autres." Meanwhile, Louis Hitimana observed that the broader livestock market is facing its own challenges, noting, "Aujourd’hui, les éleveurs se désintéressent des grands ruminants."
Market Dynamics and Supply Constraints
Butchers in Gitega attribute the current pricing trends to intense competition from traders based in Bujumbura. These traders frequently purchase cattle for export to the Congo, where they seek payment in dollars. This external demand reduces the local availability of livestock, which butchers say prevents them from maintaining lower price points within the city.
Secondary pressures on the market stem from environmental conditions affecting local livestock production. Butchers report that a significant lack of forage, exacerbated by delayed rains, has hindered the growth and maintenance of cattle and sheep herds. These agricultural challenges result in a scarcity of animals brought to market. According to the butchers, this reduced supply creates a direct impact on the cost of meat sold to residents in Gitega. The combination of international trade interests and diminished local resources continues to dictate the market rates for both cattle and sheep.