** Lubumbashi: towards an resurgence of urban order after the demolition of illegal constructions? **
The recent announcement by the interim mayor of Lubumbashi, Joyce Tunda Kazadi, of an operation to demolish illegal constructions on a 20 hectare land belonging to the Régie des routes (RVA) does not leave room for ambiguity: the urban order again seems to the heart of municipal priorities. But beyond the simple reshuffle of the urban landscape, this initiative raises deeper questions on the management of urban space, land rights and social equity within the city.
### An order reminder
The mayor clearly indicated that the occupants must empty the premises by next week, a measure that echoes similar actions carried out in 2017, when illegal constructions had already been demolished. This repetition of events suggests much more than a simple problem of applying the law. It is a reflection of a system that fights to assert itself in the face of rampant urbanization and, often, anarchic.
RVA, as an entity responsible for the management of airport infrastructure and their surroundings, is invested here with a crucial role. The consequences of this type of long -term operation deserve in -depth reflection. Does the demolition really not solve wider issues, and in particular, those relating to the housing crisis in the region?
### Undejected urbanization: a complex phenomenon
It is notorious that urbanization in Africa, and more specifically in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is generally marked by constructions without a license favored by an informal real estate market. According to statistics from the National Statistics Institute, almost 60 % of urban housing in large cities like Lubumbashi is often built without authorization. The question therefore arises: how to regulate this dynamic while ensuring fair access to housing?
The reactions of the occupants of illegal constructions are often tinged with despair and frustration. These families, with among the most vulnerable, are often forced to build where they can, faced with alternatives of housing far too inaccessible. The illegal occupation phenomenon is thus often a response to an affordable housing supply.
### Demolition and company: towards reconciliation?
The demolition of illegal constructions could offer an opportunity to rethink and reorganize urban space. If this operation may appear brutal at first, it suggests a possibility of infrastructure development which better meets the needs of the city.
Urban redevelopment projects could thus include social housing, green spaces and public infrastructure that improve the quality of life of the inhabitants. Indeed, urban planning should be accompanied by dialogues with local communities to ensure that the solutions put in place really meet their needs.
### Lessons from the past and future hopes
The case of RVA and illegal constructions in Lubumbashi should not be perceived as a simple episode in the history of the city, but rather as an opportunity to learn from the future. The multiplication of illegal constructions invites you to look at the mechanisms that regulate access to land and the capacities of the authorities to meet the challenges of uncontrolled urbanization.
The intervention of the municipality should therefore be accompanied by a detailed study of land dynamics and habitat needs, so that the decisions taken are not simply shine, but indeed a step towards the lasting transformation of Lubumbashi.
### Towards a collective vision of the city
Finally, it is important to recall that the future of Lubumbashi cannot be considered in a unilateral way. The involvement of the various actors – government, non -governmental organizations, private sector, and above all, local community – is essential to build a city that is both fair and lasting. The future of urban management in Lubumbashi, frequently marked by tensions between development and rights of occupants, requires inclusive strategies that really offer solutions to the housing crisis while preserving the interests of the various actors involved.
Thus, this demolition operation could become the catalyst for an integrative urban revitalization which, hopefully, will be in the short term beneficial for all Lubumbashiens.