The recently publicized chronicle of the tragic events that occurred at Saint-Léon College in Katanda Territory has deeply shaken the educational and emotional community. The tragic fate of these young students, swept away by the tumultuous waters of the Lubilanji River during an innocent excursion to the Tshala hydroelectric power station, has caused a wave of emotion and consternation across the region.
We learn today, with great sorrow, that two more bodies have been pulled from this merciless water, thus bringing to five the number of lives swallowed up on that fateful day. The discovery and identification of these last bodies are as many painful reminders of the fragility of our existences and the cruelty of fate.
It is difficult to imagine the pain of the bereaved families, faced with the unspeakable pain of losing a loved one, too soon, in such tragic circumstances. Helplessness and anger mingle in the hearts of those who seek answers, culprits, explanations for this collective failure that led to such a tragedy.
Local authorities, aware of the scale of the tragedy, have taken immediate measures to try to prevent new incidents of this nature. The suspension of school activities at Saint-Léon College and the ban on excursions throughout the province of Kasaï Oriental demonstrate the desire to put in place precautionary and security measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
At the same time, the responsibility of the Miba agents on secondment in Tshala is being questioned, as they are accused of not having provided the necessary assistance to the students during their visit to the various sites of the hydroelectric power plant. If this responsibility is proven, it will then be up to the courts to shed light on the circumstances of this inexcusable abandonment.
In this time of mourning and contemplation, our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families, the students and staff of Collège Saint-Léon, and the entire educational community affected by this tragedy. May these cruel losses be a somber reminder of the urgent need to protect our children, our youth, our future, to watch over them with unwavering vigilance and unwavering dedication.