The death of Odette Pemba wa Ntumba Kazadi last January in a hospital center in Mbanza-Ngungu was announced to her family only in June. This lady, in her fifties and known to be a mitchonneuse, was very well known and respected. She leaves behind a child who had no news of his mother. Members of his family who traveled to Mbanza-Ngungu to identify his body received a bill for two million Congolese francs.
The circumstances of his death remain unknown and the authorities have announced the opening of an investigation to shed light on this case. The territory administrator and morgue officials explained that family members could not keep the body any longer given its advanced state of decomposition.
This sad story highlights the difficulties that many Congolese face in accessing health care, especially in rural areas. It also highlights the difficulty families have in tracing missing persons and obtaining information on their fate. Finally, she stresses the importance of conducting thorough investigations into suspicious deaths to ensure justice and transparency in the country.
It is important to remember that behind every death there is a story and a loved one who was not given the chance to live on. We must strive to better protect the lives of our fellow citizens and ensure that all disappearances and deaths are thoroughly investigated.