Addressing his audience this Monday, November 6 at the raising of the colors ceremony, Prime Minister Appolinaire Kyèlem Joachinsnsom of Tambèla declared that life is not expensive in Faso, because there are no taxes on Yampoaka’s dolo nor on Mariam’s pancakes. He even forcefully argued that the inflation rate is falling and that growth is increasing in Faso. Hence this question: “where is the cost of living” in Faso? Continuing, he added that those who want to live in the West in Faso only have to pay the price.
If it is true that the government did not impose the dolo or the pancakes, it is also true that the price of the dolo has increased in cabarets and the pancake has decreased in weight. Better than that, the 100 FCFA increase in the price of super 91 gasoline (mostly consumed by the population) in February 2023 automatically impacted the prices of various products including, among others, transport. Furthermore, taxes imposed on the prices of alcoholic and sugary drinks have not made life any cheaper. Even if consuming these drinks can be considered “living in the West”, we must not lose sight of the fact that the taxes collected are used to finance the Patriotic Support Fund for the reconquest of the integrity of the national territory.
Furthermore, the taxes imposed on communications prices and which are used to finance the Patriotic Support Fund are not intended to make life cheaper. Even if the Burkinabè agreed to make the sacrifice. In the markets, housewives are well suited to explain and make people understand that the black plastic bag instead of the basket (it camouflages the contents) is less and less heavy. Even salt, a sachet of okra powder or baobab leaf and potash have either increased in price or decreased in weight. This is an observation.
We can well understand that given the difficult context of the war against armed terrorist groups, the government has directed priority spending towards the purchase of weapons equipment. Consequently, it is hardly justifiable for trade union organizations to claim financial advantages. But to ask them not to say that life is expensive when it is is to deny the reality of the facts.
Burkina Faso is at war. Almost everyone knows it. Which requires all Burkinabè to unite against the common enemy. As soon as we have regained the integrity of our national territory, we will be able to do with it what we want. But, for now, everyone must accept losing part of their freedom and even their income in order to be able to fully enjoy it tomorrow. It is in this logic that we can agree with the president of the transition when he says that we cannot sustainably build a country in disorder and indiscipline!
Dabaoué Audrianne KANI
