Kidnappings in Kinshasa: Taxi drivers facing pressure
The resurgence of kidnappings in Kinshasa is causing serious concern among the inhabitants of the Congolese capital. Passengers are becoming more and more wary at bus stops, trying to choose the vehicles in which they will board. Social networks are full of calls for vigilance and security measures.
In order to better understand the situation, ACTUALITE.CD interviewed Hubert Nzuzi, a taxi driver working in Kinshasa. He gives us his testimony on the growing pressure on taxi drivers and on the measures to be taken to fight this scourge effectively.
According to Hubert Nzuzi, the profession of taxi driver is strongly impacted by this situation. Customers are increasingly reluctant to board “Ketch” brand vehicles, fearing they will be the target of kidnappings. This bad publicity greatly harms their business, especially at night when revenue is even more difficult to achieve. The taxi drivers thus find themselves unfairly suspected of being accomplices of the sponsors of these acts.
Asked about the measures to be taken to fight against this scourge, Hubert Nzuzi believes that the authorities must get more involved. In particular, he proposes to deploy a large number of police officers at bus stops, responsible for checking each vehicle, each driver and each passenger. According to him, this police presence would deter the perpetrators of kidnappings and reduce the risks for passengers.
Hubert Nzuzi also points out that all the routes are potentially suspect in Kinshasa and that it is difficult to identify them with precision. However, he mentions that certain neighborhoods like Ngaliema, Kintambo and Kinshasa are often singled out. The Binza-Ozone district is particularly cited.
Regarding the identification of suspicious taxis, Hubert Nzuzi explains that they are often in a hurry and refuse to stop for long. They sometimes offer lower rates for long distances, refuse to comply and refuse to lower the tinted windows of their doors. In addition, they can be spotted thanks to the presence of two people in the back of the vehicle, ready to restrict the passenger’s movements or to administer a sleeping pill.
In reaction to this situation, the police authorities have recently imposed on taxi drivers the removal of tinted windows or the permanent lowering of them if they are originally tinted. However, this rule appears to be less strictly enforced at night, when kidnapping cases continue to rise.
Faced with this worrying phenomenon, it is essential to reinforce safety at bus stops and to make passengers aware of the signs of potential danger. The taxi drivers themselves must also play an active role in reporting any suspicious behavior or abnormal situation..
In conclusion, the upsurge in kidnappings in Kinshasa is putting considerable pressure on taxi drivers, who are seeing their business and reputation affected. It is essential that the authorities take concrete measures to combat this scourge effectively, in particular by deploying a sufficient number of police officers at bus stops. The vigilance of each individual is also necessary to prevent kidnappings and ensure the safety of the inhabitants of Kinshasa.