Kinshasa, November 12th, 2026 (CPA).-Construction work on the Grand Market (Zando) in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is 95% complete, according to a statement from the Kinshasa City Hall consulted by the CPA on Thursday. “Governor Daniel Bumba has made the final arrangements ahead of the reopening of Kinshasa’s Grand Market, known as ‘Zando’, before the end-of-year festivities. Following this assessment, which indicates that more than 95% of the construction work has been completed, he instructed the various stakeholders to step up their efforts to complete the remaining adjustments byNovember 25th at the latest,” the statement read. According to the document, the city governor chaired an important working meeting on Wednesday,November 11th, 2026, to assess progress on the final preparations for the reopening of Kinshasa’s Grand Market, commonly known as “Zando”. “This monitoring meeting brought together the relevant members of the provincial government, the market’s administrative officials and the private partners involved in carrying out this project,” the statement said.
According to the same source, discussions focused mainly on assessing the level of completion of the works, identifying the remaining challenges to be addressed, and examining the technical and operational arrangements required for the effective resumption of commercial activities. “The priority is to ensure optimal conditions in terms of reception, security, hygiene and operations, both for traders and for the thousands of Kinshasa residents expected to visit this prestigious commercial facility daily. Particular emphasis will also be placed on accessibility, which must be monitored without any shortcomings,” the document stated. Furthermore, the governor reaffirmed his determination to see the project through to completion, in compliance with the highest operational standards and within the announced deadline. The statement also added that the rehabilitation and modernization of this trading center are part of the ongoing transformation of urban infrastructure, in line with the vision of President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi, who is committed to equipping the capital with modern facilities suited to the needs of its population. “The forthcoming reopening of ‘Zando’ therefore represents an important step towards reviving commercial activities and revitalizing this major economic hub of the capital,” the document concluded.