Fatshimetrie, July 29, 2024 – An unprecedented economic crisis is shaking the city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a strike movement initiated by a group of public transporters. According to estimates by expert economists, the loss amounts to nearly 40 million US dollars, plunging the Congolese capital into a worrying financial slump.
Professor Godé Mpoyi, eminent economist and former honorable president of the Provincial Assembly, highlighted the devastating impact of this strike on the local economy. Normally, the city center of Kinshasa welcomes about four million people per day, generating transactions and exchanges vital for the financial stability of the region. However, the sudden interruption of these commercial flows has had disastrous consequences, weakening not only the economy, but also the social fabric of the city.
Kinshasa’s economic fabric is largely based on the informal economy, where many residents engage in unofficial commercial activities to support themselves. Thus, each day of disruption is a real blow to these micro-entrepreneurs, compromising their livelihoods and the general dynamics of the market.
Professor Mpoyi highlights the crucial importance of distribution in the economy. Any obstruction to the distribution circuit directly impacts the mechanisms of supply and demand, creating a harmful imbalance for local economic actors. The mobilization of residents to the city center is not only motivated by personal needs, but also by the need to maintain the fluidity of trade essential to the survival of many families.
Faced with this crisis, dialogue between transporters and local authorities appears to be an essential solution. As a liberal economy, setting prices remains a complex issue, requiring mutual consultation to find a satisfactory balance for all stakeholders. The state fuel subsidy has created tensions, prompting some transporters to overestimate their rates to the detriment of the population, accentuating existing economic inequalities.
To restore social and economic harmony, rigorous regulation of rates by the competent authorities is essential to counter abusive practices and ensure equitable access to transport services. Stabilizing the local market inevitably requires constructive dialogue and concrete measures to preserve the integrity of the Kinshasa economic system.
In short, the strike by public transporters in Kinshasa reveals the structural flaws of a weakened economic model, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action to restore confidence and revive the city’s commercial dynamicsThe economic challenge goes beyond simple figures to directly impact the daily lives of citizens, calling for in-depth reflection on possible paths towards a more stable and prosperous future for all.