Road number 5 in the DRC: another fatal accident caused by the disastrous state of the road
The rehabilitation of road number 5, promised by Governor Jacques Kyabula Katwe, is slow to materialize. On Friday June 2, 2023, a fatal accident took place near the village of Malambwe, 72 km from Kilwa, in the province of Haut-Katanga. A Hiace brand vehicle was involved in a fatal accident, killing three people and injuring several. Among the injured is the prefect of the ITM Kilwa, in agony and rushed to Lubumbashi to receive appropriate treatment. Passengers also lost their belongings and goods.
It is not the first time that road number 5 in the province of Haut-Katanga is in critical condition, despite the presence of two large companies, AMC (Anvil Mining Congo) and Mushima. These companies have made no effort to date to help the population of this city where basic infrastructure is sorely lacking. The inhabitants of this region therefore live in the most total despair, without anyone worrying about their fate.
Is this a simple accident or rather an avoidable tragedy, synonymous with chronic underinvestment in Congolese infrastructure, especially roads? The question remains, at a time when the country is facing multiple challenges ranging from security, socio-economic stability, the fight against corruption and sustainable development.
It is urgent to act to change the situation, so that tragic accidents like this do not happen again, for lack of adequate and secure infrastructure. The companies present in the region must also take their responsibility by investing the time and resources necessary to improve the roads, and thus allow the population to live in decent conditions of safety and comfort.