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- Behind the scenes of foreign business in Congo
Behind the scenes of foreign business in Congo
February 29th, 2012
Despite the insecurity and unjustified taxes imposed by the Congolese tax system, perpetually rising and curbing some foreign investment, some have been able to evolve and 
even thrive within the Congolese context.
Take the Lebanese for example. They have been investing in the country and the continent as a whole for decades now. Observing the growth of Lebanese businesses, one can only wonder how they have thrived through investing in the country despite the high taxes, corruption and insecurity.
“Working for the top businesses, Congolese can earn up to $100 a month. Lebanese make much more, around $2,000 a month for the least paid ones!” explains a young man, Bahati, speaking about the main grocery store in Goma, Eastern D.R. Congo.
“I worked for this grocery store for one year. But I had to leave. They did not know how to treat us, their Congolese employees, with respect. Not all of them, but many simply lacked respect. Between you and I, once, one of the employees asked me to sleep with him if I wanted to get a pay raise. I refused each time he approached me and at the end, I saw my tasks devalued. I was at the cashier and then he had me cleaning the floors after a while.” Explains a 20 something young Congolese woman, who preferred not to divulge her name.
“If I work for this store, it’s because many influential people shop here. It gives me the opportunity to get in contact with them, through a sale or a conversation. My goal really is just to get a job at a non-profit organization. I have diplomas but I can’t find any work. Of course, I am grateful to have a job that can help me feed my family but honestly, the way they treat me is not the most respectful.” Explains another employee I met outside of the store.
After interviewing more than six Congolese staff, I was not able to grasp one positive testimony. Not blind to the interaction between some foreign and Congolese communities, I can’t help but wonder if foreign business in Congo is not merely foreigners taking advantage of the disorder enabled by our government?
Danny MBUYI, Now AfriCAN Reporter Hero
3 Responses to “Behind the scenes of foreign business in Congo”
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I have lived 10 years in West Africa and observed the same type of behavior by many foreign business men. While Lebanese should not be singled out, I can completely relate to the stories mentioned in this article. Governments have to do better to ensure everybody benefits from the resources of Africa in an equitable and respectable way.
Moïse Katumbi once did something about this in Kitanga, but I don’t know if any other governor or himself have taken any step in the same direction anymore… I am talking about, visiting these store owners and making sure they pay all of their employees according to the Congolese laws.
yes, Alain is right.
He(katumbi) did it once and then nothing in the next days. This was actually a good way to make sure his citizen are well paid by foreigners. Other governors should take this as a good example and be encouraged by the national governments.