The provincial government of Kinshasa on Monday launched a registration campaign to allocate commercial spaces at the new central market, commonly known as Zando. The move marks a new phase in the reopening of the site, which has been closed since January 2021 and rebuilt from September 2022.
Authorities have begun a registration and verification process ahead of the allocation of spaces. The governor’s office said in a statement that the phase will run from April 7 to 20, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with an official launch held at the Kinshasa Botanical Garden.
To qualify, applicants must be Congolese nationals or represent a company registered in Congo. Foreign nationals may also apply if they hold a residence permit. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide proof of trading activity through a valid business license, a trade register, or a 2026 economic activity registration form. They must also show proof of payment of property or rental income tax to obtain tax clearance.
The registration drive has also been rolled out at several locations across the capital, according to the Congolese Press Agency (ACP). These include Matete market, Liberté market, Maluku market, and the communes of Bandalungwa and Limete, to make it easier for traders to register.
The new facility includes 10,000 stalls, 650 shops, 10 warehouses of 500 cubic meters each, more than 300 kiosks, 10 cold rooms and 272 public restrooms, according to Emmanuel Mputu, coordinator of the Central Market construction project, as cited by ACP. That figure is well below the 80,000 stalls announced in 2024 by former Governor Gentiny Ngobila.
The project was financed through a $44.5 million loan from Sofibanque as part of a public-private partnership between the city and Sogema, which contracted Chinese firm SZTC to carry out the construction.
Rental rates for the various spaces have not yet been disclosed. However, the provincial government said former occupants of the central market are expected to be given priority.
Timothée Manoke
