Fatshimetrie: The case of the demolished houses in Mbuji-Mayi comes to light
A scandal is currently shaking the city of Mbuji-Mayi, in the province of Kasaï-Oriental, following revelations about the alleged embezzlement of funds intended to compensate families whose plots of land were expropriated. The Minister of Justice has instructed the Attorney General at the Kasaï-Oriental Court of Appeal to initiate proceedings against the members of the commission responsible for this process, after noting the embezzlement of $3 million from the World Bank.
This case highlights the dysfunctions in the process of compensating victims of the demolition of houses on Dodoma and Zaïre avenues, in the Plaine district, Bipemba commune, in Mbuji-Mayi. Many families complain that they have not received the promised compensation, which does not correspond to the real value of their destroyed property. The owners of the demolished houses deplore the lack of transparency and the mismanagement of the funds allocated to this operation.
The victims’ lawyers emphasize that the space in question is not the property of the Régie des voies aériennes (RVA), thus calling into question the legitimacy of the expropriation. They demand that the negotiations be conducted fairly and in accordance with legal standards. The aggrieved families express their anger and dismay at this unjust situation that leaves them without recourse.
The Attorney General at the Kasaï-Oriental Court of Appeal has promised to conduct in-depth investigations into this case, under the instructions of the Minister of Justice. Arrests are planned in order to clarify responsibilities and provide justice to the victims of this controversial expropriation.
This case reveals the flaws in the compensation system in place and highlights the need to guarantee the protection of citizens’ rights in the face of expropriation operations. It is essential that the procedures be transparent, fair and respectful of the rights of the owners concerned. The authorities must act diligently to re-establish the truth and ensure fair and equitable compensation for all families affected by this case.
The population of Mbuji-Mayi now expects concrete actions from the authorities to ensure that justice is done and that such harmful situations do not happen again in the future.