Discount Ramadan shops make food more affordable for Mauritanians

2009-08-28

Mauritania's "Ramadan shops" offer food at wholesale prices throughout the Holy Month.

By Mohamed Yahya Abdel Wedoud in Nouakchott - 28/08/09

[Watt Abdel Jalil/AFP/Getty Images] A new retail programme unveiled by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz offers food at wholesale prices.

Mauritanians are enjoying a much-needed price break on their Ramadan cooking staples. Thanks to a new campaign unveiled this week, special stores are selling basic food supplies for prices 10-25% lower than anywhere else.

To help families afford extra expenses during the Holy Month, the government rolled out 600 new "Ramadan Shops" in 213 municipalities. Some 240 of the food stores are in Nouakchott alone.

"The Ramadan initiative didn't come out of nowhere," said Food Security Commissioner Mohammed Ould Mohamadu. Its goal, he said, is to "stabilise prices; prevent speculations in the market and help the people by cutting prices and reducing unemployment".

Store clerks say they stay busy all day long, as hundreds of shoppers seek bargain prices for their food staples.

In addition to these stores, the government rented large spaces to install what has become known among locals as the "Ramadan Show". The expo-style events sell commodities at wholesale prices, making them popular for anyone, regardless of income, who seeks the convenience of buying Ramadan meal necessities in one swoop.

The shops also "provide jobs for 70 young people with scientific degrees in Nouakchott, as well as 500 young people in internal cities", said Commissioner Mohamadu. Other employees work as observers and supervisors, to provide transparency to the shops.

"The Ramadan Shops initiative came at exactly the right time," said consultant Mohammed Ould Sidi Aali.

"They have met a number of demands by the people , the most important of which is perhaps to combat unemployment. The initiative has created 570 job opportunities. This is a praiseworthy step taken by the new authorities," he said.

Consumers also appreciate the new shops. "We thank God for this initiative" said Al Nanna, a 54-year-old housewife with a family of six. "The expenses of Mauritanian families double during Ramadan. Therefore, any cut in prices is always a positive thing."

"We were expecting such a step from the new president because he promised during his inaugural speech before the people to reduce the prices and combat high prices" she said.

Ma al-Aynayn, a Ramadan Shop supervisor in the Mana area of Nouakchott, told Magharebia that Mauritanians have embraced these new stores. "The citizens come in big numbers to these shops and at different times, especially around noon. Here we sell all the commodities that are consumed in Ramadan, such as dates, oils, milk and vegetables. We have very large quantities of these commodities, which will be enough to meet the needs of the citizens throughout the holy month of Ramadan," he said.

Mauritanian officials are serious about combating corruption and price inflation. Citizens should "immediately report any violations or breaches in the prices that have been agreed upon with the traders," Trade Minister Bomba Ould Daramane said.

For some, the shops also back up the newly-elected president's campaign pledges.

"This step may be the introduction for the implementation of the President's electoral platform, which won the trust of the Mauritanian people," Ma al-Aynayn said.