Coronavirus: the use of rickshaws on the rise in Congo-Brazzaville

Audio 01:18

Text by: Loïcia Martial

In Congo-Brazzaville, where 143 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified, residents are not lacking in initiatives to fill the void left by taxis, banned from driving. Rickshaws now transport goods and passengers over long distances through Brazzaville, the capital, which has struggled to comply with the confinement in force since March 31.

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from our correspondent in Brazzaville,

We are at the starting point of the rickshaws at the Total market place south of the capital. Pushchairs alert customers like at a bus station. For lack of space, Djibril Lemba, placed his machine on the median of the ex-avenue de l'OAU.

Since the beginning of confinement, he has multiplied the towers between Bacongo and the other districts of the city. "  I've been doing this job of a pusher for a long time!" Currently we really have a lot of work, which allows us to have 500, 1.000F per day to feed the family  ”, tells us Djibril Lemba.

Some pusher vehicles have seen their revenues drop compared to the start of confinement because many young people are now interested in their trade.

“  At the start everyone could make the recipe of 5,000F, 10,000F or 15,000F per day and this money made it possible to meet the needs of the family at home. But, lately, it's just 1,500F per day,  ”laments a pusher.

Unemployed taxi driver, turned card seller, Olivier Diatoulou is convinced that pushchairs do a great job. “  Pushers are now shopping for taxis because we drivers do not work. And, they earn better compared to us ! », Explains Olivier Diatoulou.

Pushchairs work without a pass. They denounce the attitude of certain individuals who take advantage of this opportunity to transport passengers and goods, for a fee, by deceiving the vigilance of the police.

► Read also : Africa and the pandemic on Friday April 17

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• Congo Brazzaville
• Transport

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