Title: The development of territories in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a national priority
Introduction :
The Local Development Program in 145 territories of the Democratic Republic of Congo is an ambitious project which aims to promote the development of decentralized territorial entities. Set up by President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, this program has aroused the interest of the General Inspectorate of Finance, which is closely monitoring its development. A recent field visit to the province of Kasai-Oriental allowed an IGF delegation to observe the progress and challenges encountered during the implementation of this project.
From bitter observation to encouraging observation:
During this visit, the delegation was able to observe different development sites, but also encountered obstacles. In the territory of Tshilenge, for example, the angry population destroyed an administrative building because of the use of fired bricks instead of cement blocks. However, despite these difficulties, work has progressed in other areas such as Katanda territory. The IGF inspectors stressed the importance of the quality of the materials used and proposed measures to ensure their control.
The importance of territorial development:
The IGF Deputy Head of Service, Victor Batubenga, recalled the importance of this program for the country’s development. Indeed, it allows the improvement of the living conditions of the inhabitants by offering quality infrastructures such as schools and health centers. The territories and their administrators must be supported in their efforts to guarantee sustainable and balanced development.
Measures to guarantee the effectiveness of the project:
To ensure the success of the Local Development Program, the IGF has engineer inspectors specialized in construction. These experts are equipped with measuring instruments to check the quality of the works. It is also essential to ensure the proper use of materials and transparency in their use, in order to prevent any risk to public finances.
Conclusion :
The Local Development Program in the Democratic Republic of Congo represents a crucial step towards the development of the territories and the improvement of the living conditions of the population. Despite the challenges encountered, progress is being observed on the ground. It is essential to support the efforts of the territories and to ensure the quality of the work carried out. The development of these decentralized territorial entities is a major challenge for the future of the Congolese nation