In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the embargo on the importation of sugary and carbonated drinks is causing discontent at the Zambian border in the town of Kasumbalesa. Small cross-border transporters rose up on Monday, August 5, to denounce a decision that aims to reduce them to unemployment, because these drinks are among the goods imported in large quantities.
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With our correspondent in Lubumbashi, Denise Maheho
The Ministry of Foreign Trade persists and signs: Local production must be promoted. This Monday morning, small transporters at the Zambian border, in Kasumbalesa, were angry. Customs has banned the crossing of the Congolese border of sugary and carbonated drinks, imported from other countries. Malax Luhanga is the president of small cross-border transporters
” The importation of cement was banned. There are at least 6,000 cyclists that we have redirected to transporting juice and soft drinks. Today, there is this new measure. But that is wanting the death of the population of Kasumbalesa,” Malax Luhanga, president of small cross-border transporters, is indignant.
On July 19, the Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku, suspended the import of sugary and carbonated drinks for 12 months in order to protect the local industry. For the time being, only three brewing industries produce these drinks in the DRC.
For their part, local entrepreneurs are demanding more from the Congolese government. Jeanne Tshata is president of women entrepreneurs in Lubumbashi: “ We need the support of our authorities to help the women and men who are in the processing sector to access financing in order to buy machines and packaging and be able to produce. Otherwise, there will be a shortage. »
This measure also causes discontent outside the country. The Zambian Minister of Trade indicated that his country is seeking diplomatic solutions, in order to reduce the harmful effects of this decision, because the DRC is ” a vital market for Zambian exports “, declared Minister Chipoka Mulenga at the end of July.
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