DRC's Historic Zando Market to Reopen After Five-Year Makeover, Aiming for 1 Million Daily Visitors
The historic Zando market in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) largest city, is set to reopen its doors after a five-year renovation, with plans to attract up to one million daily visitors. The market, known as Zando, has undergone a significant transformation, led by entrepreneur Dieudonné Bakarani, who began his business career selling vegetables at the very same site.
Bakarani's vision for the new market is to create a space that honors the traditional African market experience while incorporating modern amenities and sustainable design. The project has been recognized internationally, with the architects behind it winning the Holcim Foundation award for sustainable design in December.
The original Zando market was inaugurated in 1944 under Belgian colonial rule and has since undergone two major rebuilds. However, by the time it was closed in January 2021, it had become notorious for its safety issues, overcrowding, sanitation problems, and waste disposal concerns.
Bakarani's team has worked closely with local communities to ensure that the new market is designed with their needs in mind. The result is a sprawling complex featuring over 10,000 stalls, 630 shops, 40 cold rooms, 272 toilets, and 22 banking units, all set within 92,000 square meters of landscaped courtyards and rainwater harvesting systems.
The development has cost around £56m and was financed by a loan from SofiBanque. The operating contract grants Sogema control of the market for 25 years, after which the government will take over.
Despite initial concerns that the design would be too Westernized to fit local culture, Bakarani and his team have worked hard to incorporate traditional elements into the new market. However, not everyone is pleased with the project, with two DRC anti-corruption organizations accusing the government of incompetence and a lack of transparency in the contract.
Bakarani remains optimistic about the future of Zando, which he hopes will serve as a model for similar projects across Africa. He believes that the market can help change the country's image and attract international partners to explore new opportunities.
As the market prepares to reopen its doors, Bakarani is determined to prove that his vision for a vibrant, sustainable, and culturally sensitive marketplace can thrive in the heart of Kinshasa.
The historic Zando market in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) largest city, is set to reopen its doors after a five-year renovation, with plans to attract up to one million daily visitors. The market, known as Zando, has undergone a significant transformation, led by entrepreneur Dieudonné Bakarani, who began his business career selling vegetables at the very same site.
Bakarani's vision for the new market is to create a space that honors the traditional African market experience while incorporating modern amenities and sustainable design. The project has been recognized internationally, with the architects behind it winning the Holcim Foundation award for sustainable design in December.
The original Zando market was inaugurated in 1944 under Belgian colonial rule and has since undergone two major rebuilds. However, by the time it was closed in January 2021, it had become notorious for its safety issues, overcrowding, sanitation problems, and waste disposal concerns.
Bakarani's team has worked closely with local communities to ensure that the new market is designed with their needs in mind. The result is a sprawling complex featuring over 10,000 stalls, 630 shops, 40 cold rooms, 272 toilets, and 22 banking units, all set within 92,000 square meters of landscaped courtyards and rainwater harvesting systems.
The development has cost around £56m and was financed by a loan from SofiBanque. The operating contract grants Sogema control of the market for 25 years, after which the government will take over.
Despite initial concerns that the design would be too Westernized to fit local culture, Bakarani and his team have worked hard to incorporate traditional elements into the new market. However, not everyone is pleased with the project, with two DRC anti-corruption organizations accusing the government of incompetence and a lack of transparency in the contract.
Bakarani remains optimistic about the future of Zando, which he hopes will serve as a model for similar projects across Africa. He believes that the market can help change the country's image and attract international partners to explore new opportunities.
As the market prepares to reopen its doors, Bakarani is determined to prove that his vision for a vibrant, sustainable, and culturally sensitive marketplace can thrive in the heart of Kinshasa.
The fact that Zando Market is finally reopening after 5 years is a huge deal! I'm all about supporting local businesses and seeing African markets get some love 
#ZandoMarketReopening #AfricanBusiness #SustainableDesign. Dieudonné Bakarani's vision for the market is truly inspiring, combining traditional elements with modern amenities - it's a win-win! 
His commitment to working with local communities and incorporating rainwater harvesting systems is so admirable 
#EcoFriendly #CommunityFirst. I'm curious to see how the government will take over operations after 25 years - fingers crossed they'll make some positive changes 
#ZandoMarket #AfricaInnovation. Can't wait to hear more about this project and see it thrive! 
. The fact that they're incorporating modern amenities and sustainable design while still honoring traditional African market experiences is genius 
. I love how Bakarani's team has worked closely with local communities to make sure the new market meets their needs, it's all about cultural sensitivity and community-driven development 
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. And the rainwater harvesting systems and landscaped courtyards are such a great touch, it shows that Bakarani is committed to creating a sustainable future 
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. Can't wait to see how Zando Market turns out! 
. The fact that local communities were involved in the design process makes me proud of our Congolese brothers and sisters 
. Fingers crossed that it'll be a model for other African markets 
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I FEEL BAD FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT HAD TO DEAL WITH SAFETY ISSUES BEFORE BUT NOW THEY GET TO ENJOY A SAFER MORE organized MARKET. FINGERS CROSSED IT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL AND A REAL GAME CHANGER FOR KINSHASA!!! 
. £56m seems like a pretty penny to put into renovating a market, especially considering all the safety issues they had back when it closed five years ago. 1 million daily visitors is ambitious, but I hope they've got a solid plan in place to deal with the crowds and waste management. It's also interesting that there are concerns about the contract being too Westernized for local culture - hope Dieudonné Bakarani and his team have done enough to ensure it stays true to African traditions. The good thing is that the government is taking over after 25 years, so fingers crossed they can make some changes if needed 
On the other hand, I guess it's cool that they're trying to incorporate traditional elements... or are they? Maybe they're just throwing some African patterns on the walls and calling it a day... IDK.
Can you imagine walking into this crazy Zando Market after 5 years of renovation? The vibe would be like stepping into Wakanda - all that African charm & culture with modern amenities 
I'm intrigued by Dieudonné Bakarani's story, from selling veggies to building a whole market empire 
. But, I gotta wonder, how will they handle the crowds & waste management? It's gonna be a wild ride! 
What do you think about this Zando revival? Will it become a tourist hotspot or just another crowded mess? 
. The fact that they had to do a major overhaul after just one previous renovation says something about the state of this place... I mean, 10,000 stalls? That's just a recipe for chaos 
. Anyway, I guess if you're into that sort of thing, the new Zando might be worth a visit... but I'll stick to my online shopping 
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i love that bakarani's team involved local communities in the design process, it shows he cares about their needs & culture. 
but imo, there r some ppl who dont trust gov or bakarani, thats probcally coz of corruption & lack of transparency. 
lets hope zando becomes a success story for africa & changes the country's image 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good traditional African market vibe? 
But at the same time, I get why they needed a makeover - overcrowding and waste disposal were major concerns 
. Dieudonné Bakarani's vision is actually kinda inspiring, trying to blend old and new while keeping it culturally relevant 
. Fingers crossed the market lives up to its promise of 1 million daily visitors 
It'd be awesome if Zando becomes a model for other African markets too - let's get that tourist traffic rolling in 
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. Five years is a looong time, but I think it's worth it if they're gonna make it shine like a diamond 
. The fact that they're incorporating modern amenities and sustainable design while still honoring traditional African market vibes is just pure genius 
this renovation is amazing! dieudonné bakarani has done an incredible job bringing back this african gem from the brink of disaster 
now imagine being able to shop for all those yummy veggies he used to sell here at the market 5 years ago 
the holcim foundation award is no joke, sustainable design is the way forward