Mining operations by the Compagnie Minière de Musonoie (COMMUS), a mining company operating in Kolwezi in Lualaba Province, constitute a violation of the right to life. This is denounced by the Initiative Good Governance and Human Rights (IBGDH) in a press release to Zoom Eco.

Among the « flagrant » violations of the rights of the inhabitants of Kolwezi, of which the offending company is the author, IBGDH evokes, among other things, the shaking of houses; shock waves; inhalation of dust and harmful gases due to explosives and the presence of dumps in the city.

« IBGH denounces that this Friday, July 26, 2019 after 1 hours, Commus Company has still carried out mining whose effects on the city Gécamines Kolwezi constitute a real insecurity for the well-being of the population. And, on the ground, it was found cracks with risk of collapse of the walls of the house. People are wondering about their health, and a few family leaders point out that there are many cases of heart disease, tension and respiratory disease in older people and children every now and then.  » , said the said statement.

According to the same source, all the complaints of the populations victims of violations of their rights were submitted to the various services of the State supposed to take care of this question remained unanswered.

#RDC – L'ONG #IBGDH accuse l'entreprise minière #COMMUS S.A de #violation du droit à la #vie des habitants de la cité #Gécamines à @Kolwezi et formule des recommandations aux parties prenantes @Presidence_RDC @JeanineMabunda @LualabaDu @donat_kambola pic.twitter.com/gyjLp6yDET

— OEARSE RDC (@OearseRdc) July 27, 2019

As if this were not enough, IBGDH, which seems to be advocating for the recovery of the situation, makes new recommendations, notably to the provincial governor, the Urban Mines Division, the Social Affairs Division, the mayor of the city, the organizations civil society and the victims.

To state authorities, the NGO recalled their obligations to protect and respect the rights of their citizens.

It thus draws the attention of local, national and international opinion to the violation of the right to life of the inhabitants of Gécamines Kolwezi by the offending company.

Olivier KAFORO