Title: “Kasa-vubu Avenue in Kananga cut in two by dangerous erosion”
Introduction :
The recent rains which fell on the town of Kananga, capital of the province of Kasaï Central, caused an alarming phenomenon: an advancing head of erosion cut Kasa-vubu avenue in two, located right in the downtown. This worrying situation accentuates the concerns of civil society, which fears the appearance of new heads of erosion during the next rainfall. At the same time, the Kananga Emergency and Urban Resilience Project (PURUK) appears to be progressing slowly, increasing risks for the city’s population and infrastructure.
Dramatic consequences:
The head of erosion, located after the central Cité Bethel church, has already swallowed up several plots and now threatens Kasa-vubu avenue. The rehabilitation work on this road, carried out as part of the Tshilejelu project, was interrupted following the termination of the CREC7 company contract by the Congolese government. The damage caused by erosion in Kananga is already significant, particularly with the destruction of the road network. The next targets of this head of erosion are the Road Traffic Police Office (PCR) and the Kananga Higher Technical Institute (ISTKA), if no urgent measures are taken to stem the phenomenon.
The Kananga emergency and urban resilience project in question:
The PURUK project, launched by the President of the Republic in 2023 to combat erosion, is progressing at a very slow pace. In its urgent phase, it only concerned three erosions deemed to be priorities, leaving many other sites vulnerable. Civil society denounces this slowness and warns of the disastrous consequences that this could cause. It is essential to accelerate the rehabilitation and erosion prevention works in Kananga, in order to protect the city’s population and infrastructure.
Conclusion :
The head of erosion which cut Kasa-vubu Avenue in Kananga in two is a new illustration of the dangers the city faces in the face of torrential rains. The human and material consequences of these erosions are numerous, requiring urgent action by the authorities. It is essential to accelerate the PURUK project in order to prevent further erosion and protect the population and infrastructure of Kananga. Civil society is calling for general mobilization to address this worrying situation and guarantee the safety of the city’s residents.