Fatshimetrie, September 19, 2024 – Waste management in Kinshasa, particularly in the commune of Selembao, is currently a major concern. Indeed, the mayor of the municipality, Matthias Womumu, recently raised a major problem: the lack of vehicles for the evacuation of waste.
This situation highlights the difficulties faced by local authorities in maintaining a clean and healthy environment in the Congolese capital. With more than fifteen thousand tons of garbage produced daily, the evacuation of waste to the Mpasa technical landfill center represents a major challenge due to the lack of material resources such as dump trucks and loader excavators.
The mayor of Selembao stressed the need for more resources to ensure better waste management and thus prevent the risk of flooding caused by the accumulation of waste in the streets and gutters. In particular, he advocated for the provision of trucks by the city hall, thus making it possible to organize rotations in each district to ensure the regular removal of waste.
The situation is all the more urgent since the transit centers built in certain municipalities twelve years ago no longer fulfill their function, which contributes to the worsening of the waste problem. The pushcarts that collect household waste often find themselves forced to dump it in inappropriate places, thus hindering the flow of water and increasing the risk of flooding during the rainy season.
Faced with this worrying situation, the governor of Kinshasa launched the “Coup de poing” operation to eliminate the millions of tons of garbage that clutter the city. With this in mind, a recent meeting with a delegation from the World Bank was an opportunity to discuss the possibility of recovering waste and transforming it into energy and employment opportunities.
It is clear that the issue of waste management in Kinshasa is a major challenge that requires concrete measures and sustained commitment from all stakeholders. The population, local authorities and international bodies must collaborate to find sustainable solutions to ensure a healthy and preserved environment for future generations.