DRC bicycle transporters protest "tracasseries" on Kasaï-Central roads

Bicycle transporters in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kasaï-Central province are sounding the alarm over persistent "tracasseries" – harassment and excessive demands – on the roads leading to the provincial capital, Kananga. These "Bayanda," as they are commonly known, face a barrage of taxes and numerous perception services along their routes, significantly hindering their vital role in supplying the city with essential goods.

These transporters, who often cycle dozens of kilometers to bring necessities to Kananga, describe their journeys as arduous due to the multiplication of taxes and checkpoints. They specifically accuse the General Directorate of Revenues of Kasaï-Central (DGRKAC) of orchestrating these difficulties. One transporter, Louis Mulumba, recounted the ordeal of being forced to pay for documents at each of the roughly ten posts encountered on the 63-kilometer stretch between Demba and Kananga. This practice, he stated, discourages them from bringing products to the city.

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There are several posts on the road and, at each post, we are forced to pay to obtain documents. This discourages us from bringing our products to Kananga.

Another transporter, Jacques Kabeya, echoed these sentiments, noting that agents at different posts demand new documents or impose cash deposits for goods to pass. Even those who possess the correct paperwork are not exempt from these demands, with some controllers falsely declaring documents invalid to extort money. The sums demanded range from 2,000 to 5,000 Congolese francs (approximately $2.17 USD) per post. Those unable to pay risk abandoning portions of their merchandise.

The "Bayanda" are appealing to provincial authorities for intervention to clean up the sector. They advocate for better-organized controls and less burdensome taxation to ensure their essential economic activity can continue without undue obstruction. Radio Okapi has reached out to the DGRKAC authorities, who have promised to comment on these accusations soon.

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There are always demands, whether you have the documents or not. When you present your papers, some controllers declare them false. All this is to extract money from you.