Page 45 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 14

Economy

Building infrastructure is the whole. The lack of infrastructure in DRC
most important humanitarian is affecting the whole region and the whole
assistance continent.”
“Talking of DRC, I really appreciate
the aid ngo`s working on the ground and End insecurity by building
helping people and the funding supplied to infrastructure
them, but personally I think what we need “The issue of wars and insecurity in
is not humanitarian aid. We need infra- Congo is mainly not the issue of Congolese
structure. Because humanitarian aid will people themselves. It is an issue of the
make you depend on the giver. But if you multi nationals who desire to control the
have infrastructure, you are able to build minerals. For us to have the end of the
your future, you are able to do something to war in DRC, the multi national com-
earn a living, not for one day or two weeks panies have got a role to play. But also
or a month but for a year for years. So I we have to acknowledge that the people
think the basic need we have is for infra- on the ground are the ones executing this
structure. We need roads, we need railways, mission in order of controlling the minerals
Infrastructure and energy defi- we need electricity in the country.” in DRC. And the fact that they are not
cit causes poverty working, that they have no jobs, they have
Despite the natural resources in Food shortage and child mal- no other way to earn a living, they always
Congo, which are more diverse and nutrition are caused by lack of become a potential target for the multi na-
plentiful than in any other coun- infrastructure tional companies to use them, because they
try on Earth, the Congolese live “If we have roads, the malnutrition, the have nothing else to do to earn a living. So
with some of the highest levels of food shortages cannot be had in DRC. when you build roads in Congo, in east of
abject poverty globally to which we People will be able to transport their goods, Congo, Goma, Bukavu, Ituri and other
can also add alarmingly high and the maize, the cassava, the potatoes from provinces; when you build railways, when
increasing malnutrition and food one region to another. It is a very fertile you set up manufacturing systems in DRC
insecurity. country where anything can grow. The it is obvious these infrastructures are going
cost of transporting by air ,which is the to create jobs for the people. And these
“The really basic need for the people in only option for most regions, makes the young men are going to find themselves
Congo, and the east of Congo, particularly, cost of the food, potatoes for instance, working, having another way of earning
is infrastructure. That basic need , besides too expensive to be affordable.The whole a living.Therefore they cannot be recruited
insecurity, because we know that trade is issue of food shortage, of malnutrition in easily to go and fight or create war in the
not possible when there is no peace, but we DRC is related to lack of infrastructure, country.
need urgently, the people, as a nation need lack of roads, lack of railways, lack of
infrastructure.If you have no roads, you electricity.” So I really believe that the physical econ-
cannot have an agriculture sector developed. omy, the infrastructure development, it is
If you have no railway how can you carry AfCFTA : a chain is as strong also a key element we need to implement in
goods from one corner of the province to as the weakest link DRC if we want to end the war in DRC.
another, or one province to another?” Because if those multi national companies
“Congo is sitting in the centre of Africa come and want to create a war in an area
and when you have got no infrastructure
“The whole cost of living and the poverty in DRC, you are hindering the whole because they want to control minerals ,
that Congolese are subjected to, is related process of trade among the other countries and they have no back-up on the ground,
to lack of infrastructure.” it is going to be difficult for them to do it.
of Africa. For example: when you look So building the physical economy is key
at this map, where you see Tanzania, you
“How can you establish a manufacturing cannot ship goods from Tanzania to Congo to bringing stability in Congo and in the
sector when you don`t have electricity? And Brazzaville because in order for you to do region.”
this has really been a tremendously big that, you have to go through DRC! Unless
issue for trying to resolve the problem of you can do it by boat but if you want to To watch the full interview on You-
food shortage in DRC because when you use roads, you cannot because there is no Tube, please use the link:
don`t have electricity how do you process infrastructure in DRC. And this has been https://youtu.be/AIHK_NysNeY
agricultural goods!” hindering the whole process of development
for the region itself and the continent as a

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