Fatshimetry: Kinshasa in the grip of an invisible danger
The scene is almost unreal: in the streets of Kinshasa, errant and defective electrical cables seem moved by an invisible force, intertwining above the heads of passers-by. These electrical wires, vulnerable and exposed, represent a latent danger to the lives of city dwellers.
The inhabitants of the Congolese capital find themselves, despite themselves, in a veritable game of Russian roulette, where a simple contact with these cables could have disastrous consequences. Some burn with anger, others with anguish, while these electric wires continue to hang menacingly above their heads.
The streets of Kinshasa are thus transformed into a veritable electrical labyrinth, where the slightest step could be fatal. These cables, exposed and subject to the vagaries of time, have become real death traps, endangering the safety of residents.
Numerous incidents have already been reported: fires caused by electric arcs, electric shocks and even deaths. The population is in a state of permanent alert, aware that the situation could degenerate at any time.
Faced with this growing threat, the Congolese authorities finally seem to be reacting. The establishment of a program to bring the electricity network into conformity, financed by the World Bank, represents a first step towards resolving this problem. Residents hope that this initiative will succeed quickly, before it is too late.
Securing Kinshasa’s electrical cables is not only about guaranteeing the safety of residents, but also the image of the city. By acting quickly and effectively, the authorities could not only save lives, but also restore the image of the Congolese capital.
In the meantime, the inhabitants of Kinshasa continue to evolve in this surreal setting, where electric cables weave an invisible web of danger. A situation which reminds us that, sometimes, the most serious threats are those we cannot see.