The demonstrators made themselves heard again in Mbuji-mayi, vehemently denouncing the compensation considered “modest” which was offered to them following their expropriation due to the modernization work of the Bipemba international airport. The scandal lies in the blatant contrast between the real value of the expropriated plots and the paltry sum allocated to them.
The anger of the owners reached its peak, symbolized by the burning of tires at the entrance to Avenue Zaire and at the intersections of Avenues Salongo and Fatshi. The owners protested against the inadequacy of the compensation amounts, believing that a thousand dollars is not enough to compensate for the loss of a plot valued at ten thousand dollars on the market.
Faced with the determination of the demonstrators, the provincial minister of the interior, Ananias Muzadi Kakonde, went to the scene to try to calm the situation. He invited protesters to an emergency meeting at the provincial governorate to find a solution to this growing conflict.
However, despite the minister’s efforts, the meeting ended in an impasse according to testimony from the owners. The provincial interior minister, acting as provincial governor, promised to report the situation to his hierarchy.
In a fifteen-day ultimatum, the owners of the plots concerned must relocate upon receipt of compensation funds. This requirement adds to the pressure felt by property owners, who see their property rights violated and their lives disrupted by the airport expansion works.
It should be noted that the expropriated plots are located on national road number 1, precisely on avenue Inga, between avenue Zaire (the entrance to the new terminal) and avenue Dodoma, as well as on avenue Fatshi, formerly called Lusambo (the exit from the new terminal).
This new wave of demonstrations reflects the growing frustration of expropriated owners and highlights the urgent need to find a fair solution to this problem. The authorities concerned must take into account the legitimate concerns of the owners and seek ways to adequately compensate the losses suffered during these forced expropriations.
The modernization work at Bipemba international airport is important for the development of the region, but it is crucial to ensure that this modernization is carried out while respecting citizens’ rights and equity. It is time to give a satisfactory response to the aggrieved owners and resolve this situation in order to preserve social peace and avoid an escalation of tensions.