KARONGI- Retail prices of essential commodities have sky- rocketed on the local market due to the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities.

The average price of cattle has risen from Rwf 100,000 to Rwf 150,000 a head, goats shot up from Rwf 15,000 to Rwf 28,000 while a cockerel has now increased from Rwf 3,500 to Rwf 5,000.

The retail price for a kilogram of vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, onions has also increased by an average of Rwf100. The price of a kilo of beef has however remained at Rwf1700.

The New Times has learnt that this increase is due to a large number of Congolese traders transporting commodities across Lake Kivu to the DR Congo.

"It is amazing.....there is a lot of competition with foreign traders who cross in from Congo,” Theophile Yambabariye, the official in charge of collecting taxes, said.

Marita Mukeshimana, a housewife, said the current prices of essential foodstuffs were a blow to poor people.

With the New Year around the corner, consumers are worried that food prices will continue rising beyond the festive season.

"I am worried that prices are likely to remain volatile, probably until early next year,” a trader, Pascal Musoni, observed.
sam.nkurunziza@newtimes.co.rw