Congolese mineral transporters ask government to reduce tolls at entry to DRC
Congolese truckers working for the Copperbelt miners (Zambia) are asking the Kinshasa government to reduce their border crossing fees, in order to be able to compete with drivers from abroad, reports Africa Intelligence.
A delegation of truckers from the Federation of Congo Enterprises (FEC) met on December 2 Mr. Michel Mulongo, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Sylvestre Ilunga, to explain their situation to him, which they describe as “critical”.
In their memo, these Congolese truckers ask the government to lower tolls on entry into the DRC. These carriers, engaged in the transport of copper, cobalt and inputs for the miners, say they are at bay, and propose that a truck registered in the DRC now pay $ 200 to $ 300, and no longer $ 1,000, to enter in the country, according to the same source.
In addition to the Prime Minister, the truck drivers are seeking a response from the ministers of transport, Didier Mazengu Mukanzu, and of finance, José Sele Yalaghuli, in particular via their representative at the FEC, Lambert Tshisueka Mutondo, director of Hermis and Moody Blood Transport, a subsidiary of the conglomerate from the Hyper Psaro distribution.
It should be noted that at the end of August 2020, the Zambian government raised its tolls regulation for trucks registered in the DRC, a round trip now costing them $ 1,000 against $ 400 previously. This was the coup de grace for the truckers, who were already facing the drastic drop in tariffs paid by mining operators for the transport of their copper and cobalt.
Therefore, to remain competitive against foreign drivers, Congolese truck drivers are asking for a reduction of $ 1,000 to $ 300 or even $ 200 in the amount they pay when entering the DRC.
The objective is to bring the tolls, for a trip of a cargo from a mine in Haut-Katanga or Lualaba to Lusaka (Zambia) and then back to the DRC, to $ 1,300 and not $ 2,000. $ as is currently the case.
Indeed, the trucks registered in Zambia only pay $ 150 to enter their country, i.e. for a return trip from their home to a mine in the DRC, they pay a total of $ 1,150, if we add the $ 1,000. on arrival in the DRC. In addition, vehicles coming from any African state other than the DRC also do not pay $ 1,000 toll in Zambia, thus carrying out missions in the Copperbelt at a lower cost, according to Africa Intelligence.
