**The Devastating Effects of Mining in Kolwezi**
In Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, intense mining activities are having a devastating impact on the lives of residents. The situation is alarming in several neighborhoods and cities of the city, including Musonoi, GÉCAMINES Kolwezi, as well as in the Kanina and Biashara neighborhoods.
The consequences of mining activities carried out by the Musonoi Mining Company (COMMUS) are particularly worrying in Musonoi and the city of GÉCAMINES Kolwezi. Residents are faced with land subsidence, cracks in homes and ruined buildings. The danger signs are clearly visible, with high-risk areas marked with red tape. The population is exposed to the harmful effects of these mining operations and lives in precarious conditions, without privacy, finding themselves watching each other through the cracks in the walls of their houses.
Poignant testimonies underline the gravity of the situation. A woman, with tears in her eyes, expresses her dismay: “My house is riddled with cracks, where will I go with all these children? The situation has continued to worsen since 2019. We need help from the authorities.” In GÉCAMINES Kolwezi, the damage is also visible on public buildings, such as schools, churches and administrative buildings, which show signs of advanced deterioration.
The Congolese Mine Action Center (CCLAM) is sounding the alarm and calling for urgent intervention by the authorities. The provincial coordinator of CCLAM warns of increased risks with the arrival of the rains, stressing the need to relocate residents surrounding the Musonoi mining concession to prevent possible tragedies.
Faced with this critical situation, it is imperative that the competent authorities take rapid and effective measures to protect the population and preserve the environment. The future of Kolwezi and its people depends on the ability of the governing bodies to act proactively to put an end to the disastrous consequences of intensive mining.