** Kolwezi: Between hopes and expectations as approaching the 12th conference of governors **
Monday, June 9, Kolwezi, an emblematic city of the Lualaba province, attracted national attention to the visit of President Félix Tshisekedi. This day, marked by a palpable effervescence, highlights the hopes and expectations of the inhabitants in the face of the reality of decentralization and local development.
The streets of Kolwezi are flooded with people, who came mainly to welcome the Head of State. This fervor raises the following question: what does this mobilization for citizens really represent? For some, like Sarah Kalend, she embodies a moment of hope, a sign that leaders pay attention to their concerns. On the other hand, this strong presence of the population leads to paralysis of socio-economic activities. The markets and businesses, crucial for daily life, work in slow motion, while citizens line up along the roads to admire the presidential procession.
It is essential to recognize that this situation echoes deeper expectations. Residents of Kolwezi, while delighting government attention, express the urgent need for concrete solutions in the face of persistent challenges such as youth unemployment and the improvement of infrastructure. Junior Ilunga, another resident, underlines the importance of inaugurating projects generating jobs. This climate of optimism is however tempered by realistic expectations in the face of the history and the difficulties encountered in previous government meetings.
The 12th Conference of Governors, which will be held during this visit, is defined under the theme “of the coherence between the actions of the central power and those of the provincial executives”. This framework for dialogue is fundamental to assessing advances in decentralization and the implementation of promised policies. Decentralization, conceived as a governance tool promoting the involvement of the provinces in decision -making, nevertheless encountered various obstacles. The multiplicity of issues such as sometimes limited funding and deficient coordination, require not only a sincere commitment to central power, but also active listening to local concerns.
The choice of Kolwezi as a host of this conference is not trivial. As a province rich in mineral resources, in particular cobalt, its economic dynamics significantly influence the Congolese economy. However, this wealth also raises the question of resource management and their fair redistribution within the community. Should local populations directly benefit from the economic benefits linked to the exploitation of their resources? This question resonates forcefully in the current context.
Political speeches and projects announced must therefore be followed by tangible effects. Field visits planned by the president, which include sites under construction, are duplicating: they testify to a commitment to support the development of infrastructure, but must also be subject to regular monitoring to avoid forgetting unrealized projects.
In addition, the issue of confidence between the central government and the provincial authorities is crucial. The provinces, while seeking to establish their own identities and development trajectories, must ensure that their voice is heard in the national decision -making process. The conference represents a potential platform to strengthen this synergy, but it will depend on the real will of political actors to engage in an open and constructive dialogue.
In conclusion, Kolwezi, by this vast mobilization to welcome the president, sends a strong and clear signal to the government: it is time to meet the expectations of the population with concrete and visible actions. The hopes expressed today must result in a long-term commitment to the prosperity and well-being of the Congolese. The future of the province and, by extension, of the country, can be transformed, but this requires authentic cooperation and mutual respect in supporting everyone’s aspirations.
Timothy Prince Odia