The issue of road infrastructure in Espace Grand Kasaï has been put on the agenda of the Congolese parliament. Despite his fragile health, the Minister of State for Infrastructure, Alexis Gisaro, responded to the concerns of elected officials.
The KANANGA – KALAMBA MBUJI road rehabilitation project, initially represented by the province of Kasaï-Occidental, was finally replaced by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works to give this project a national character. The works were entrusted to the company TOHA INVESTMENT, and according to the Minister, the realization of the first phase will take 24 months. As for the construction of the paved road, it is planned for a period of 36 months. The preliminary works will be completed in August 2023 to facilitate traffic on the axis.
The Minister reassures the Honorable Senators as to the feasibility of the commitment to end the work in August 2023 despite a length of approximately 190 km to be completed in 3 months. The company justified this commitment by recalling that the 50 km of roads built were made during the rainy season, and that the second phase of the work will be carried out during the dry season. In addition, the use of three workshops will make it possible to speed up the pace of work since the machine operators have been trained, and the clayey nature of the soil in the remaining part favors its smooth running.
The Minister also addressed the issue of the appointment of BCECO as Delegated Contracting Authority, which was raised to simplify the procedures for disbursing funds. However, this choice has raised concerns about the nature of the binding clauses in the contracts. The Minister reassured the Senators by stating that all works contracts signed contain clauses for the settlement of disputes, obliging the parties to respect their commitments under penalty of applying sanctions.
In short, this intervention by the Minister of State for Infrastructure, Alexis Gisaro, sheds light on the issue of road infrastructure in the Espace Grand Kasaï. The reader will be able to keep abreast of the progress of the work which is of real importance for the Congolese economy, a fortiori, for the population living in this area.
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