Fatshimetrie
The city of Kinshasa, known for its constant effervescence, was the scene of a strike by bus and taxi drivers, who decided to mobilize against the “road harassment” they suffer from law enforcement officers. This strike, launched this Monday, July 29, 2024, raises concerns about its economic repercussions on the region.
Economic analyst Al Kitenge, part of the think tank “Al and Legacy”, issued a worrying estimate of the potential economic losses caused by this strike. According to his calculations, the city of Kinshasa could suffer a colossal loss of around $50 million in transport revenue and missed opportunities.
To counter the devastating effects of this strike, financier Jules Kimpama Welesi advocates the implementation of an effective pricing policy for urban transport. According to him, the development of such a policy, combined with rigorous monitoring through a tripartite commission, would ensure the sustainability of the system in the face of economic fluctuations.
The consequences of this strike by bus and taxi drivers are not limited to financial losses. Indeed, a thorough study has shown that such mobilizations can lead to a decrease in productivity, a drop in revenues for local businesses and additional costs for users.
In terms of productivity, traffic jams caused by strikes can translate into a reduction in economic efficiency, with costs estimated at 1-3% of annual GDP. In addition, local businesses see their revenues decrease due to a limited customer base and delayed deliveries, as was observed during a taxi strike in New York.
Users, for their part, are forced to resort to more expensive alternatives during strikes, such as taxis or carpooling services. These additional expenses can represent up to 20% of users’ usual transport costs, thus impacting their purchasing power and their budget.
In short, the strike of bus and taxi drivers in Kinshasa cannot be considered as a simple social movement, but must be analyzed in all its economic and social complexity. It therefore appears crucial to find sustainable solutions to prevent such crises and ensure the proper functioning of the urban transport system in the Congolese capital.