Cases of Covid -19 have declined significantly across the DRC and the capital Kinshasa, but drastic restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the virus are maintained. What makes c growl ...

Covid-19 in the DRC: employees of bars and nightclubs cry out their fed up

Audio 01:39

Demonstration of employees of bars and nightclubs in Kinshasa.

August 4, 2021 © RFI / Pascal Mulegwa

Text by: RFI Follow

6 mins

Cases of Covid -19 have declined significantly across the DRC and the capital Kinshasa, but drastic restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the virus are maintained.

What grumbles certain professions: the employees of bars, discotheques and nightclubs banned from operating for two months thus held their first protest rally on Wednesday, August 4.

There were hundreds of them in the heart of Kinshasa's business center, in front of the town hall, to denounce what they consider to be a double standard.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Kinshasa

Pascal Mulegwa

They own nightclubs, “DJs” or waiters in nightclubs;

all wear black t-shirts to express their fed-up.

Two months after the closure of their activities, they are embroiled in difficulties. Bavick, in his thirties, holds up a message on his banner “

Why only us?”.

It is double standards, double measures because the churches turn, bring together thousands of people without respect for barrier gestures, there are even grandiose funerals, the large markets and political parties are functioning. It's really unfair, we are hit too hard because the coronavirus does not come out of the cabinet

”.

In the middle of the crowd, Makiese, nicknamed "DJ Altitude" is flabbergasted: "

we have families to feed, children to educate but we have empty pockets

His greatest concern is that “

the bosses will soon close the activities because there are several exits, particularly in terms of rent, taxes and others, but no entry.
The authorities have really forgotten us

”.

"We will go see the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic"

In front of the town hall, Ornella, looking exhausted, is in the same situation. “

As you can see me there, I am a mother without a husband. I take care of my two children on my own. I'm already two months away from paying rent and the landlord is about to kick me out. Open the boxes to us, please be serious, it is this work that keeps us alive

Among the organizers, Cédric is the bearer of the memorandum addressed to the governor of the capital. “

We ask him to review our case, we need to go back to our workstations. This walk today is a first step; in case there is no favorable answer, we will go to see the Prime Minister, we will also go to see the President of the Republic. The activities are running normally in the country

”

Despite the drop in contamination, the authorities remain cautious.

No question of being carried away by the figures of the response team, especially since due to lack of availability of doses, the vaccination campaign has been suspended for 4 weeks and the country classified in "red" by France due in particular to a “

Active circulation of the coronavirus

” as well as “

the presence of a worrying variant

” in this country where the circulation of the Delta variant worries.

►

Also read the African press review of the day

with the front page: the Covid, demonstration against the closure of nightclubs, bars and terraces in the DRC

Covid-19 in the DRC: employees of bars and nightclubs cry out their fed up

Covid-19 in the DRC: employees of bars and nightclubs cry out their fed up

"We will go see the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic"

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