The project to strengthen the socio-economic infrastructure in the Central region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) takes a new step forward. Two new contracts were signed on March 11, 2020 between the government of the DRC and two construction companies. They are the Chinese company Zhengwei Technique Congo (SZTC) and the Belgian group Putman-Malcon&TSE.
The two companies are now in charge of setting up 28 boreholes for water wells in five provinces of the country, notably in the provinces of Kasai, Central Kasai, Eastern Kasai, Lomami, and Sankuru. These provinces are facing shortages of drinking water. “The project is divided into three components. It is currently in the infrastructure installation phase and concerns 10 to 20,000 inhabitants,” explains Deo Sunzu, the national coordinator of the project to strengthen the socio-economic infrastructure of the Central region of the DRC (Prise).
Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2020
Construction of the boreholes will begin on April 11, 2020. “The supply of drinking water in the greater Kasai region will cost about 25.53 million euros (16.74 billion CFA francs),” says Guy Mikulu, the DRC’s Minister of Rural Development.
For the record, the project to strengthen the socio-economic infrastructure of the Central region of the DRC is financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in partnership with the DRC government. Thanks to this project, 60 schools, 505 latrines and a modern centre for the empowerment of women have been built.
In addition, the government plans to build the capacity of members of 60 management units in the management of drinking water supply systems. They will be responsible for managing the boreholes that will be built in Greater Kasai. Still within the framework of the project to strengthen the socio-economic infrastructure of the Central region of the DRC, authorities also plan to conduct a feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the Lungudi Hydroelectric Power Plant in Tshikapa, the capital of the Kasai province. “These works will promote the fight against erosion for the protection of the pipes of this supply system and the roads of Tshikapa,” says Deo Sunzu, the national coordinator of the project to strengthen the socio-economic infrastructure of the Central region of the DRC.
Inès Magoum