Luanda, July 4, 2025 (Lusa) - "Daylight robbery" is how Luanda received the news of a new rise in fuel prices, a "sudden" measure that should make the cost of living even more expensive for families, according to consumers heard by Lusa.
Surprised by the increase in the price of a litre of diesel, which since the early hours of today has cost 400 kwanzas (€0.37), compared to the previous 300 kwanzas (around €0.28), the inhabitants of Luanda foresee worse days ahead with the main products and services becoming more expensive.
During a tour by Lusa today of the main petrol stations in the Angolan capital, motorists, taxi drivers, motorbike taxi drivers and street vendors mostly disapproved of the measure and criticised the government's policies.
"This is daylight robbery (...) [this decision] needed to be announced and the sooner the better, it's not that sudden, imagine how many people we have with diesel taxis," said Bernardo Cassoma.
Speaking to Lusa while filling up his vehicle at the Sonangalp petrol station on Avenida Comandante Gika, in the centre of Luanda, Cassoma, who has been running a personalised taxi service for five years, said that the increase in fuel prices would "kill" business.
"School fees have just gone up, and before you know it, another one is coming in! What are they doing to us? They want to kill us, that's all I have to say," he said, anticipating more difficulties in buying "bread" for his family.
Faustino Lopes, a 50-year-old car driver, called the new price of a litre of diesel fuel a measure that would worsen the already difficult living conditions of Angolans, fearing that taxi fares would double.
He therefore believes that difficult days lie ahead for Angolans, especially those who rely on private taxis to commute from home to work and back.
"We're asking our leaders to also look at the situation the people are living in and what the conditions are like, because we're not being helped at all and with this increase day after day. It's complicated," Bernardo Cassoma lamented.
On board his motorbike, Orlando Morais, a motorbike taxi driver, expressed surprise at the new fuel price and argued that the decision should have been preceded by consultation with taxi drivers and motorbike taxi drivers to prevent protests.
"This situation could create demonstrations, because things are going up from day to night, fuel is going up and then it's very complicated," he said.
On Avenida Deolinda Rodrigues, in front of the Atlético petrol station, managed by Sonangol, we met Marlene Salvador da Silva, a travelling coffee vendor who predicts "worse days ahead", especially because of the taxi fare, which she believes will rise.
With a thermos in her hand and dressed in a kitchen smock, where she showcases the products she sells, especially to motorists and passersby, Marlene fears that her daily transportation costs will double, considering she is facing a "complicated" situation.
"Where are we going to end up? That's complicated! To come and sell I spend 800 kwanzas (0.74 euros) now how much am I going to pay? This is bad, how are we going to live like this?" asked the 32-year-old saleswoman.
Miguel Agostinho, 43, at the wheel of his "blue and white", as the private taxi service vehicles are known, also told Lusa that he was surprised by the rise in the price of diesel and criticised the government.
"Look, to be honest I didn't even know about it [the rise in fuel prices], I believe that this is a country that is being badly governed, because you don't believe that overnight things change, you go to sleep and when you wake up you're scared, something has happened all of a sudden," he said.
Miguel has been on the road for almost five years and says that his taxi journeys are likely to increase because, he explains, he will now be spending 8,000 kwanzas (€7.49) a day to fill up his car, compared to the previous 6,000 kwanzas (€5.50).
DAS/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
