643,734.19 USD invested for the rehabilitation works of the Lemba-Matete bridge on Mobutu Avenue-DRC

The Congolese Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, proceeded, on Saturday, October 15, 2022, to the inauguration of the Lemba-Matete bridge on Mobutu Avenue. This is the bridge over the Matete River, connecting, on Mobutu Avenue, the communes of Lemba and Matete to the Sub-region entrance.

These works, financed by the Public Treasury to the tune of US$643,734.19, lasted six (6) months, from April to September 2022.

It should be noted that this work carried out by is part of the “Kinshasa zero hole” program. They were carried out by the Groupement Cestari-Sokerico company under the control of the Design Office (Study and Intervention Group (GEI) and the Roads and Drainage Office (OVD), as the contracting authority. delegate.

In his word for the occasion, the Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, stressed that this bridge must allow a fluid circulation of people between these two municipalities.

“This bridge had collapsed for more than three years, causing flooding. And unfortunately, these floods brought us loss of human life, more than 29. And so, there was this need to see this work materialize. And as you know, as part of the “Kinshasa zero hole” program, which is monitored at the level of the Ministry of State, Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works (ITPR), we had launched work to ensure, not only secondary roads , liaison for good circulation at the level of Kinshasa, but also practicable roads without holes. And here, it is the continuation of this work which was launched and which materializes this day. It’s a long-term job, which has begun and must continue.“, he said.

And to continue: “  I am also here to encourage the Ministry of ITPR and all those who work alongside it, in particular the OVD and all these companies which are supporting us in this project, to continue to do so without stopping. And we, we will continue to put the means to be able to reach this good level of traffic in the city of Kinshasa, given the number, not only of the inhabitants, but also of the number of vehicles which have increased significantly. This is an opportunity for me to educate our population on these areas where it is forbidden to build and where, unfortunately, our compatriots are sometimes misled to build on riverbeds causing flooding and traffic problems. I sensitized the mayors of Lemba and Matete so that they can also sensitize the population, not only to keep this work, but also to ensure that there is no construction on the bed of the river. And where these constructions impede the proper circulation of water, we will have to crack down and carry out demolitions. In any case, I am happy to connect these two municipalities today. I thank all those who have worked for this materialization as requested by His Excellency the President of the Republic.”, he said.

It should be noted that several other structures are being implemented as part of this ” Kinshasa zero hole  ” program.

It is in this context that the Congolese Head of Government also visited Avenue Kimwenza, in full rehabilitation in its section between the intersection of Avenue Victoire and Avenue Kikwit.

2.8 km long, this route was rehabilitated by JMC (Johnny Matala Company) at a cost of nearly 2.3 million US dollars, with funding from the Public Treasury, the Ministry of ITPR as master of work, and the OVD as the delegated contracting authority.