Kinshasa, April 18th, 2025(CPA) – A consumer protection expert called on the authorities on Friday to take the necessary measures against street vendors on the main arteries of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to prevent traffic accidents, the CPA learnt in an interview. ‘The authorities must take the necessary measures against street vendors on the city’s main thoroughfares. The government must not wait for loss of life before taking action, now is the time’, said Patrice Musoko, a consumer protection expert. He added that street vendors on the Sauts de mouton or in certain main thoroughfares are exposed to the risk of accidents, and are not protected by the law. ‘The public authorities have a duty to put things in order so that the main roads are used for road traffic and not for setting up casual markets’, continued this expert. In his view, street vending also presents risks for consumers and the vendors themselves. This type of trade, which is part of the informal sector, amplifies the latter in the absence of economic regulation. Consumers and vendors are exposed to socio-economic and environmental risks. Also, by buying these products, consumers and sellers contribute to strengthening the informal sector. ‘From an environmental point of view, street vending gives consumers free rein to throw away waste anywhere on the boulevard, and the products are not well protected according to food standards. This practice can also cause traffic jams on the road’, he said.
To this end, he urged vendors and consumers to take a responsible approach. ‘Consumers and road users must refrain from buying and consuming while in traffic on the main arterial roads to avoid all kinds of socio-economic and environmental risks’, he concluded.