The Congolese Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi, and his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema, recently co-chaired the ceremony to launch construction works on the bridge over the Luapula River, in the province of Haut-Katanga, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This road project aims to connect the South Congo sub-region to Dar-es-Salaam and constitutes an alternative to the Kasumbalesa road, offering a gain of 300 km for users. By allowing decongestion of Kasumbalesa, the main border crossing between the DRC and Zambia, this bridge will help to streamline trade and facilitate the transport of mining products from the provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba to the port of Durban in Africa. from South.
The construction of this bridge over the Luapula River, whose work duration is estimated at three years, will connect the DRC to its two neighbors, Zambia and Tanzania. It is part of a broader project aimed at creating an eastern link to Tanzania, thus offering new routes of economic exchange for the mining provinces of the south of the DRC.
During the launching ceremony, President Félix Tshisekedi also inaugurated the Kasomeno-Mwenda-Chalwe road, a 95 km long dirt road. This infrastructure will help strengthen the DRC’s foreign trade and facilitate the region’s economic development.
This initiative is part of a desire to promote economic “concatenation” in the region, by creating essential infrastructure to support trade and encourage the development of mining industries. As the production of copper, cobalt and other metals used in batteries experiences significant growth in the DRC, it is essential to strengthen transport infrastructure to support this increase in traffic.
The construction of the bridge over the Luapula River therefore marks an important step in the economic development of the region, by promoting trade with neighboring countries and facilitating the transport of the DRC’s mineral resources to international markets. This project will help strengthen the DRC’s position as a major player in the mining industry and stimulate the country’s economic development.
In conclusion, the construction of the bridge over the Luapula River is a major step forward for the Democratic Republic of Congo. This project will help facilitate trade with Zambia and Tanzania, as well as strengthen the mining sector, which is a pillar of the Congolese economy. The construction of this infrastructure demonstrates the Congolese government’s desire to modernize the country’s infrastructure and promote its economic development. The bridge over the Luapula River is therefore a symbol of progress and openness for the DRC.