The toll and parking tax on two or four-wheeled vehicles introduced by the mayor of Mbuji-Mayi (Kasaï-Oriental), currently set at five hundred Congolese francs (0.2USD), is dividing the owners of the vehicles affected by this measure, observed on Wednesday, February 21st, a reporter from Radio Okapi.
While some motorcyclists find no problem paying this tax at that rate, others believe it is too much.
"I pay because it's the state's tax. Five hundred francs is okay. We must pay it," thinks one moto-taxi driver.
"The taxes that we paid at twenty thousand francs have gone up to thirty thousand francs. The taxes that we paid at fifteen thousand, now it's twenty-five thousand, plus the technical control, road tax sticker, business license. We have been overcharged. How much does a moto driver earn?" wonders another.
It has been a week since the urban authority of Mbuji-Mayi has reinstituted the toll and parking tax.
This tax, however, had been suspended by the provincial authority following public order disruptions caused by its collection, with fights breaking out between moto-taximen and tax collectors.
According to the deputy mayor, the payment is made before noon, through an electronic system with tax collectors deployed by the city hall.
So far, no hassles have been reported after the introduction of this tax.
MMC / RO