Haut-Katanga: Kanyaka Scanner and $100 Fee Cause Persistent Traffic Jams on the Lubumbashi–Kasumbalesa Road
Station de péage sur la route Lubumbashi-Kasumbalesa. Radio Okapi/ Ph. John Bompengo
Traffic remains heavily disrupted on the road linking Lubumbashi to Kasumbalesa, in Haut-Katanga province. Since Friday, May 8, major traffic jams have been reported at the Kanyaka toll station, where more than 200 vehicles, mainly trucks carrying minerals and food products, have been stuck.
The situation was still being observed on Wednesday, May 14, with long lines of vehicles blocked on this strategic route connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Zambian border. Several drivers say they spend long hours before passing through the checkpoint.
A New Fee Contested by Drivers
At the center of the tensions is the installation of a new control scanner at Kanyaka. Drivers denounce the introduction of a fee estimated at 100 US dollars for vehicles to pass through. According to them, this measure is significantly slowing traffic and worsening the already recurring congestion on the Lubumbashi–Kasumbalesa corridor.
Transporters also believe that this new procedure further complicates logistics operations on a road that is essential for the export of copper and cobalt produced in Haut-Katanga. Some operators already fear economic consequences linked to delays in the transportation of goods.
Authorities Defend the Kanyaka Scanner
In response to criticism, Haut-Katanga’s provincial Minister of Transport and Economy, Georges Babunyi, justified the installation of the scanner on security and economic grounds.
Speaking on Top Congo FM, he explained that the device was installed to fight mining fraud, the recurrent theft of copper cathodes, and the trafficking of electric cables belonging to SNEL.
According to him, the strengthening of controls comes at a time when the DRC is facing several security challenges, requiring increased monitoring of goods moving along this strategic corridor.
Calls for Better Organization
The provincial minister also denounced the failure of some drivers to respect the highway code, which he considers another factor worsening the traffic jams observed at Kanyaka.
Despite these explanations, transporters continue to call for better traffic organization in order to ease movement on the Lubumbashi–Kasumbalesa road.
Héritier Maila / Patient Lukusa — Top Congo FM
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