The holiday season is always synonymous with movement and frenzy in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. However, this year, the city’s residents are facing an unexpected and worrying situation: a dizzying increase in public transport fares. The prices of taxis, taxi-buses and motorbikes have literally exploded, making the daily travel of many city dwellers more complicated and expensive.
An alarming observation was made by a Fatshimétrie reporter who was able to observe this surge in prices during several trips made in the capital. On usual routes such as the journey between Rond-Point Ngaba and Rond-Point Victoire, fares have doubled, going from 1,000 to 2,000 Congolese francs, an increase of 100%. A similar situation was observed on the Kingabwa IZAM – Central Market (Zando) line, where prices have climbed from 1,000 to 2,500 or more, marking an increase of 25%.
Residents of the Ozone district, in the commune of Ngaliema, are also impacted by this surge in prices. They now have to pay 2,000 Congolese francs to reach the city center by taxi-bus, whereas the fare was 1,000 FC not long ago. The situation is becoming even more complicated for users of motorcycle taxis, nicknamed the “Wewa”, who now set prices at their convenience, sometimes based on the appearance of the customers. It has become common to see trips such as Lemba-Rond-point Victoire reach exorbitant prices of up to 5,000 FC.
In addition to rising fares, Kinshasa residents also have to deal with traffic jams and scarce public transport, exacerbating the difficulties of daily travel. To address this chaotic situation, the provincial Ministry of Transport said it had developed a public transport fare schedule to put an end to these disorders. This schedule should be made public in the coming days, offering a glimmer of hope to Kinshasa residents who are waiting for concrete solutions to facilitate their travel.
In conclusion, the increase in public transport prices in Kinshasa during the end-of-year holidays is a real headache for many residents of the capital. Faced with this worrying situation, it is imperative that concrete and effective measures be taken to ensure safe and affordable travel for all.