Brazzaville transport news: a Suzuki handed over
Brazzaville, 21 Jan (ACI) – Congolese driver Jossy Batadingue, 39, the first winner of the V+ programme run by the start-up Gozem, received a brand-new Suzuki vehicle on 20 January in Brazzaville, according to the Congolese Information Agency (ACI).
The ceremony, held in the Congolese capital, focused on a practical objective widely shared across the sector: facilitating access to vehicle ownership for professional drivers operating in app-based mobility services.
V+ programme terms: performance and commitment rewarded
Speaking during the handover of the keys, Mr Batadingue described the contractual framework attached to the vehicle. “This Suzuki costs 14 million CFA francs to be repaid over a period of four years. To receive it under contract, you had to work for 90 days without rest from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Today, I have become the owner of a beautiful car,” he said, visibly moved, as reported by ACI.
For the programme’s initiators, the award is intended to recognise both performance and loyalty, while offering the recipient a pathway toward greater financial autonomy through structured repayment and ownership arrangements.
Gozem Congo strategy: expanding vehicle ownership for drivers
Launched last year in the Republic of the Congo, the V+ programme is designed to allow Gozem drivers—referred to by the company as “champions”—to become owners of their vehicles after a defined period.
In the account provided by ACI, the initiative is presented as part of Gozem’s broader effort to consolidate its position in Congo’s transport market, while supporting economic activity by widening access to financing opportunities for participating drivers.
MTN Congo partnership: onboard Wi‑Fi for passengers
ACI also reports that the deployment of V+ has been supported by MTN Congo, the mobile network operator. Under this cooperation, each vehicle is equipped with a Wi‑Fi router intended to provide passengers with free connectivity, including for practical uses such as better locating their destination.
In the context of urban mobility, such features can also be read as a service-quality lever, aligning passenger experience with the operational needs of digital transport platforms.
Key handover ceremony chaired by Gozem’s leadership
The prize-giving ceremony was chaired by Gozem’s co-founder, Raphaël Dana, in the presence of several personalities. ACI notably mentions the attendance of Lydienne Tasi, Director of the CFAO Mobility Congo agency.
While the event centred on a single recipient, the framing by organisers underscored a wider ambition: to professionalise the driver ecosystem through predictable financing models and tangible incentives tied to service continuity.