In Kinshasa, certain realities defy logic. Barely demolished, uncontrolled construction resumes with renewed vigor on the prohibited site of Ngaliema Bay. This situation raises many questions: where is this population, so visibly unwilling to comply with the law, going? And why are the authorities allowing it to continue?
Everything suggests that the demolition was limited to a mere stunt, without any serious follow-up. Yet, the demographic context of the capital—marked by a massive and uncontrolled rural exodus—demands firm and lasting measures more than ever.
The Ngaliema Bay site is recognized as a high-risk flood zone, which is why it has been banned from building any buildings there. But the reality reveals a lack of control, leaving room for chaotic proliferation. This case is only an illustration of a broader problem: Kinshasa has become a veritable breeding ground for anarchic construction, in addition to the establishment of pirate markets and various commercial activities on prohibited sites or public land.
Faced with this disorder, the urgent task for authorities—whether national or provincial—is to enforce the law. But given the current laxity, many fear that this chaos will flourish thanks to the silent complicity of certain political circles.
The question remains: should we continue to let this happen?
Zamenga Odimbale
Actu7.cd / MCP, mediacongo.net via IMCongo.com
