In the heart of the tumultuous city of Kinshasa, a tragedy recently unfolded, attracting the attention of the authorities and the local population. A building under construction partially gave way on Avenue Malemba Nkulu, in the Socimat district of the commune of Gombe. This incident, which occurred on Monday March 18, caused turmoil among residents and required rapid intervention from the authorities.
Since this tragic event, rumors have been rife as to the identity of the owner of the building. Speculation has spread through the streets of Kinshasa, but no official confirmation has been provided to date. Even Kennedy Pierre Mukendi, Director General of the Single Window for issuing building permits, was unable to confirm the identity of the owner during his appearance on the program Parlons-en on Radio Top Congo FM.
Mr. Mukendi stressed that control measures had been taken upstream, with the suspension of work from September 2023. However, the owner would not have respected this decision and would not have provided the necessary documents to obtain authorization to build. Investigations are underway to determine the identity of the owner, as work has been suspended anonymously.
This incident highlights the importance of complying with building regulations and highlights the need for increased vigilance to ensure the safety of buildings under construction. The protection of citizens and the prevention of disasters must be at the heart of the concerns of the authorities and those involved in the construction sector in Kinshasa.