Kabila ignores the difference between a boulevard and a highway. Neither one nor the other exist in Tanzania, the land of youth.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Kabila ignores the difference between a boulevard and a highway. Neither one nor the other exist in Tanzania, the land of youth.
DR CONGO-CHINA: Kinshasa, the price of modernization (IPS
25/03/2010) KINSHASA - The building, in Kinshasa, two highways turned into boulevards in the city amazes Kinois, who admire the know -how to the Chinese company performing the work. But these sites are accompanied by significant damage: trees cut fifties, accidents which are growing ... Tipper, excavators, bulldozers giants ... The CREC (China Railway Engineering Company), a powerful Chinese company, has deep pockets to redo the main boulevard of 30 June, along 11 kilometers, the main artery of downtown in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. Day or night, the heavy machinery at work under the watchful eye of their masters and workers Congolese, who are working to shape the new boulevard. Come to attend a spectacle of Kinshasa, amazed by the genius and the work of these young men from Asia. On the other great artery of Kinshasa, the Boulevard Patrice Lumumba, who through much of the city to international airport 15 km Ndjili, the show is the same. "President Joseph Kabila wanted to provide the capital to the size of boulevards a great country, "said Barnabas Milinganyo, the spokesman for the Congolese Agency works (ACGT). Hundreds of trees felled
The projects are ambitious, perhaps a bit too much as the modernization of these two boulevards has a cost, both human and environmental. Their expansion has led to the slaughter of hundreds of giant trees that lined the old road 600 to 700 trees on 30 June alone, according Wapu Beladi, the Office of the Provincial Minister of Education, Environment and Gender. "As it wants to have four lanes in both directions, go to 10 or 12 meters the old roadsides and cutting down trees covered by the schemes of work, "he says. Trees over fifties, who gave the beautiful greenery in the capital, and that does not celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence of the country June 30, 2010. The Kinois who liked the look of boulevards would bite their fingers a little, "I am not against these upgrades. But in a city where it's very hot, these trees had their place. They brought us from the shadows, "said a staff member at a bus stop.
"As a second lung forest in the world, our country should be more sensitive to the cutting of trees, "says, for its part, Moise Musangana of Eco Plus', a non-governmental environmental protection.
While the controversy around Kinshasa swells the slaughter of these trees, the Chinese who are often criticized the lack of respect for the environment, remain silent. But they seem to do what is asked of them. "They execute the plan that the government has introduced," said Beladi, indicating that 4,000 seedlings are grown in nurseries to be planted along the boulevards.
Dangerous Highways
work often accused of stopping moments when funding does not follow. Trafficking, it remains intense on these roads were never closed despite the workflow. Traffic jams, pedestrians helpless to cross large stretches of roads that have not yet received the notice marks, crazy drivers who drive at breakneck speed on the tracks or freshly rebuilt on layers of earth waiting to receive the asphalt, raising a cloud of dust ... Accidents can not be counted. Prompting some to talk Kinois new "boulevard of death".
Police sources do not provide precise figures on the number of accidents, but users say unequivocally that these avenues are much more dangerous than before. "The cross becomes a nightmare" says a street vendor, who witnessed the death of two of his colleagues, mowed the boulevard of 30 June by an unruly driver. In some circles
external partners of the DRC are still very critical of contracts signed with China, we speak of "highways" that should not have their place in the city.
* (Didier is Kebongo Syfia journalist, a news agency based in Montpellier. This article is published under a cooperative agreement between the news agency InfoSud and IPS). (FIN/2010)
Didier Kebongo
* March 24 (IPS)
© Copyright IPS
Sepsis From An Abscess Tooth
Moses Katumbi Katanga: Will he defy Kabila in 2011?
Moses Katumbi, future president of the Democratic Republic of Congo?
( Grioo.com 25/03/2010) "The Point" devoted five pages to the governor of Katanga province. It's not often that a French weekly, namely "The Point" (No. 1957 of March 18, 2010, currently on newsstands) devotes five pages to a politician living in Africa. Most African presidents were not eligible for this honor. It must be said that Moses Katumbi Chapwe, since it was from him that this is not the first comer and leaves no one indifferent. Born a Congolese mother and an Italian father, a businessman who made his fortune in mining, since converted into policy, Katumbi would weigh 60 million dollars. Elected governor of Katanga province, the richest province of the Congo (it contains 10% of world reserves of copper, 34% of world reserves of cobalt and other minerals essential to modern economies as coltan mobile phone ...) Katanga is also the headquarters of the General Mines and Quarries, better known under the name of Gecamines, a mining company whose cash was used extensively Mobutu of its heyday. It distributes the dollars galore and holds its province with an iron fist. The future president of Congo? Le Point, No. 1957 of 18/3/2010 concerning Moses Katumbi
Adored by the people of Katanga Katumbi bursts onto the screen in the documentary by Thierry Michel "Katanga Business. The scene where he threatens to close a plant operated by Chinese workers becaufe Congolese employees in the plant without required regulatory work is fast becoming a cult. With a real charisma, Katumbi is ubiquitous, runs the local football club (the Almighty Mazembe). Described as a mixture of "Berlusconi and Chavez," Katumbi has improved tax collection in the province (150 million dollars in four months against 24 million last year as declared in Katanga Business), which would have earned him death threats.
Katumbi also has detractors among the political class in Kinshasa, but also among persons who are not all convinced by his methods. Thus, in Le Point, some denounce the lack of monitoring of its high-profile initiatives. Moreover, contrary to what he said in Business Katanga, Moise Katumbi would not stop the business by becoming governor (these would be managed by his wife). According to a business lawyer quoted in Le Point, tax officials play down the governor's business tax, without knowing if they are on order or on their own initiative.
Still, the incredible popularity and media exposure Katumbi necessarily create jealousies and enmities. In fact, in Kinshasa, it is not the entire political class that is a fan of Moses. So far, relations with Joseph Kabila are good, both men seem to appreciate. Katumbi remains to be seen, it is easy to understand that one day there will inevitably be cramped in Katanga Province; What pushes just the point of asking whether Katumbi will one day be president Democratic Republic of Congo. If nobody has the answer to this question, it deserves to be asked.
is the wealth of Katanga who had the misfortune of Congo. At the time of Mobutu, when President Mobutu headed Katanga, Gecamines no longer investing, everything was wasted in castles in Europe
If I had not entered politics, I would have billions today. I had to sell my shares to be neutral. I won $ 60 million, but the Europeans who are in partnership with Gecamines have won how many billions?
Video: Moise Katumbi threatens to shut down a plant belonging to Chinese (from Katanga Business)
http://www.grioo.com/ar, moise_katumbi_futur_president_de_la_republique_democratique_du_congo_, 18803.html
By Editorial Grioo.com
22/03/2010
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