[ANALYSIS] – In order to fight traffic jams in the city of Kinshasa, the Congolese government has thought to build overpass in some major crossroads of the capital. To do this, two public enterprises, in this case the Road and Drainage Authority were involved. Is this the beginning of a new era? The future will tell us more.

On April 19, 2019, these state companies signed contracts with some Chinese companies under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction, for the construction of flyovers in the city of Kinshasa.

Duration of work, 90 days

Some « strategic » crossroads have been identified to house these infrastructures, which, according to their initiators, aim to eradicate traffic jams on the arteries of the city of Kinshasa.

The identified sites include Lumumba Boulevard at its junction with Sendwe Boulevard at University Avenue, Triomphal Boulevard and Kasa Vubu crossing at Cabus Bridge in Kasa-Vubu Commune; the intersection of Avenue Libération and Sergeant Moke at the level of ASSANEF in the commune of Lingwala.

The boulevard of June 30 in its junction with the avenue liberation was also targeted. The Socimat roundabout, the Kitambo shop roundabout, the Pompage roundabout and the Matadi road at the intersection with Lalou Avenue are also among the sections to house the flyover.

According to the contract, Chinese companies had between seven and ten days of preparation before starting the actual work. The cost of the work for each structure varies between 1.2 million USD and 4 million USD per site. Under the terms of the signed contract, the delivery of the sheeps was to take between three and four months.

What about the effectiveness of the work?
Since the signing of the contract between the Congolese government and Chinese companies, blue sheets have littered a few intersections transformed into building sites. Suddenly, there are endless traffic jams in the few places where the work was to be done.

Les sauts-de-moutons devant libérer Kinshasa de ses interminables embouteillages sont devenus un cauchemar pour les automobilistes kinois. Que se passe-t-Il ? Le président @fatshi13 va se rendre sur les différents chantiers. 1/2

— Kasongo Mwema Yamba Y'amba (@mwema_y) July 15, 2019

In public opinion, we have been wondering for months about what these blue sheets hide. At first sight, one is tempted to believe that behind these sheets there is nothing. Faced with this cacophony, the state wakes up from sleep and seeks to understand what is really happening.

The first institution to wake up is the Presidency of the Republic. Three months after the signing of the contract, no concrete is still visible at height. However, the timing for the delivery of the books is 90 days (three months).

« Where nothing is done, the blue sheets will be dismantled. The sites, reopened to the circulation and the works control will pass to the cash register, to refund the perceived money », warned Kasongo Mwema Yamba Yamba, according to which the untouchables were warned.

According to some analysts, the spokesman of the Head of State would refer to the fact that not long ago, the indelicates were not controlled and could not do the work by keeping the funds disbursed by the Plublic treasure.

Allo ! Vous qui avez indûment perçu l'argent de l'État, attendez-vous à une petite visite de courtoisie des….inspecteurs. Oui, oui. Il y en a encore en RDC. Tokomesana. 2/2

— Kasongo Mwema Yamba Y'amba (@mwema_y) July 15, 2019

The soap opera brings to the surface the problem of sanctions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For several years, public contracts have been offered by mutual agreement.

Sometimes, the clauses of the contracts are not respected and the managers run freely on the streets, without being worried. This should no longer be the case in a country that wants to be « democratic. »

Olivier Kamo