The situation around the Kinsuka garden, also known as CPA, in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has become the scene of a delicate land conflict between the company IMMOTEX, belonging to the TEXAF group, a customary chief of the region and a group of dispossessors. This land dispute raises important issues for the local community and deserves special attention.
According to the information gathered, the Kinsuka garden is at the heart of tensions between IMMOTEX, represented by the General Manager of Texaf in Kinshasa, Mr Jean Filippe Waterschoot, the customary chief Ricky Bahambula, and a group of dispossessors who have erected anarchic constructions on the site. The Minister of State in charge of Land Affairs, Acacia Bandubola, went to the site to assess the situation and noted the non-compliance with the established limits.
Faced with this complex situation, the Minister called on the dispossessing occupants to present the legal documents justifying their presence on the premises, while urging them to comply with the law. The project led by IMMOTEX aims to transform the Kinsuka garden into a residential complex comprising 1,500 housing units, as well as commercial, educational, sports and leisure infrastructure. This urban development is designed to help open up the site through the establishment of the North-West Ring Road, and promises to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region.
This case highlights the challenges related to land management in a context where economic and social interests confront the issues of preserving green spaces, respecting the rights of local communities and combating land dispossession. It is essential that all stakeholders engage in a constructive dialogue that respects the laws in force in order to find sustainable and equitable solutions for the future of the Kinsuka garden and its surrounding community.
Ultimately, this land conflict raises crucial questions about land protection, respect for local people’s land rights, and the need to promote inclusive and sustainable urban development. It calls for a deep reflection on how private and public interests can coexist harmoniously for the well-being of all. The Kinsuka Garden should be an opportunity to establish a collaborative and transparent approach to ensure a prosperous and balanced future for this emblematic region of Kinshasa.