We are good people - DRC traders

DO not consider us bad people, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) traders at Kasumbalesa border post have told their Zambian counterparts and other cross border traders from COMESA and SADC regions.

The Congolese traders said it was disappointing that some people classified them as unfriendly and difficult people, and that had sent wrong signals to different parts of the world.

In an interview at Kasumbalesa border post on the DRC side, Annie Maloba, a Congolese trader, said foreign traders should feel free to do their businesses in DRC and utilise its opportunities.

Ms. Maloba said Zambia and DRC were one but only divided by British and French colonial masters who created geographical boundaries between the two countries.

She said external traders should not to be afraid of selling their merchandise in DRC because of misconceptions that Congolese were bad people.

She claimed that despite DRC’s political instability, the Congolese traders were friendly and peaceful people who followed rules and regulations of cross border trade. “There's is need for cross border traders from various parts of Africa to work in collaboration with the Congolese to boost national economies in central Africa, SADC and COMESA regions,” Ms Maloba said. She said all African cross border traders should maximise and utilise business opportunities available in DRC. “Believe in us, we are straightforward people interested in enhancing our country’s standards into a land of hope and prosperity for the benefit of Zambia and other countries on the African continent,” Ms Maloba said.

She added that DRC and Zambia had been all-weather friends for more than half a century because Congolese had mutual respect for their neighbouring countries regardless of their economic or social status.