Fatshimétrie – Demonstration of vendors against the sale of the Ngbaka port by Indian investors in Kinshasa
A wave of protest shook the Congolese capital on Monday, November 25, as vendors at the port of the National Transport Office (Onatra) expressed their anger at what they consider to be a fraudulent sale of their market to Indian investors. The women traders, arms laden with baskets of smoked fish, raised their voices and slogans in the streets of Kinshasa to denounce this act that they describe as unfair and detrimental to their livelihoods.
The crux of the conflict lies in the “Ngbaka” port, a vital space for these vendors located between the Apollo port and Baramoto, which is at the heart of their commercial activity. These courageous women openly accuse the Director General of Onatra, Martin Lukusa, of having sealed an agreement with foreign investors to the detriment of the local community. Their resistance is a cry of distress in the face of the imminent threat of losing their main place of work.
In a country where employment opportunities are rare, the sale of this port symbolizes much more than a simple economic transaction. For these women, it is the guarantee of being able to feed their family, send their children to school and maintain a semblance of stability in a precarious socio-economic context. Their presence in the streets of Kinshasa today is a reflection of their resilience and combativeness in the face of flagrant injustice.
The testimonies of the vendors reveal the extent of the social disaster that is brewing if this sale were to be finalized. Without access to the “Ngbaka” port, their future and that of their children is compromised. The voices raised in the streets of Kinshasa carry a strong and clear message: the Congolese people deserve to be heard and respected. Foreign interests must not take precedence over those of the local population, who struggle every day to ensure their survival.
Faced with this tense situation, local authorities are called upon to find a fair solution that preserves the interests of the vendors while respecting the rules of the economic game. It is imperative that the voices of the most vulnerable be taken into account in decisions that directly affect their daily lives.
In conclusion, the struggle of the vendors of the “Ngbaka” port is a cry from the heart that resonates beyond the streets of Kinshasa. It is the fight of courageous women who fight for their dignity, their family and their right to a better future. Their determination is an example of peaceful resistance and community solidarity that deserves to be supported and heard. Their call for justice and equity must be taken seriously, because it touches the heart of Congolese society and its fundamental values.