**A Wake-up Call for Bagira: The Need to Revive the Slaughterhouse and Central Market**
The Bagira commune in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing a major challenge: the slaughterhouse and central market, two key pillars of local economic activity, remain unused. This reality was sharply highlighted by the inspector in charge of hygiene, sanitation and environment, Simon Nyandu, during a recent field visit.
The desolate scene of the empty slaughterhouse and the deserted central market, devoid of traders and life, is evidence of an alarming disengagement of the population of Bagira from the development of their own community. For Simon Nyandu, it is imperative that local economic actors reclaim these spaces, abandon the informal markets and reinvest in the renovated central market intended for them.
The question that then arises is: why this desertion of the central market in favor of pirate markets? A vendor interviewed, Jeannette Mihigo, highlights a restrictive geographical distance between the market and homes, which pushes customers to turn to closer alternatives. However, it is important to remember that the regulation of commercial activities is essential to ensure healthy competition and guarantee the quality of the products offered.
Faced with this observation, strict measures must be taken to encourage traders from informal markets to join the central market. State intervention, through dissuasive sanctions, is necessary to restore order and encourage local development. The mayor of Bagira, Patience Bengehya Wa Ngwabo, has already taken initiatives by evacuating pirate markets in certain neighborhoods, but constant monitoring and action are essential to ensure the success of this transition.
It is essential to raise awareness among the population of Bagira on the importance of supporting and actively participating in the economic life of their commune. The slaughterhouse and the central market are not only commercial infrastructures, but also symbols of local identity and levers of economic and social development.
By reviving the slaughterhouse and the central market, the commune of Bagira will be able to regain its economic vitality, create local jobs and offer its inhabitants a more dynamic and prosperous living environment. It is time for everyone to become aware of their role in building a better future for this community that deserves to prosper.