The Matadi Kibala neighborhood in Kinshasa faces a persistent and growing problem: traffic jams. Every day, residents of this locality have to deal with endless traffic jams, mainly caused by the massive presence of heavy trucks on national road number 1. This situation affects not only the mobility of residents, but also their daily lives in general.
Traffic jams are particularly intense between Matadi-Kibala and the Mitendi neighborhood in Mont Ngafula. Residents, forced to find solutions to continue going about their business despite these traffic difficulties, have had to adapt. Some even end up spending the night with relatives in neighborhoods less affected by traffic jams, in order to ensure their presence at their workplace the next morning.
The testimonies of residents highlight the sacrifices and adjustments they are forced to make to cope with this daily reality. Some prefer to give up taking their vehicle and opt for motorcycle taxis, considered more efficient in navigating congested traffic. Others, such as taxi drivers, are forced to stop their activity when traffic jams become too dense, thus impacting their income.
Traffic problems in Matadi Kibala are exacerbated by the indiscipline of some drivers, as well as by a lack of concrete action by the authorities to regulate traffic. While heavy goods vehicles are singled out by many road users, representatives of the drivers of these vehicles refute this accusation, arguing that traffic jams are a generalized problem that also affects other regions.
Faced with this situation, measures were discussed at the last Council of Ministers, including the increased presence of traffic police to regulate traffic. However, it remains essential to provide sustainable and comprehensive solutions to resolve this traffic congestion problem in Matadi Kibala and thus improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of this locality.
In conclusion, traffic jams in Matadi Kibala are more than just a daily inconvenience; they have a major impact on the lives of the inhabitants and call for concrete and effective actions from the authorities to improve the situation.