Kinshasa, February 4th, 2026 (CPA).- Approximately seven (7) cemeteries in the municipalities of Maluku and N’sele, east of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were inspected on Wednesday during a mission to assess environmental and burial conditions led by the chair of the Provincial Assembly’s Environment Committee. “Today we inspected about seven cemeteries, some of which are located in Menkao, in the municipality of Maluku, and others in N’sele, in order to inquire about their environmental situation and burial conditions,” said Steve Mulumba, chairman of the Environment and Land Use Planning Committee of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa (APK). He specified that this inspection tour took the delegation to the Necropolis of Eternity, where the general condition of the site and compliance with current standards were examined.
“The situation observed at the Necropolis of Eternity is generally satisfactory and deserves to be commended. The current conditions reflect the serious and responsible work of the managers, and we congratulate them on their efforts,” said Mr. Mulumba. According to him, with the upcoming adoption of laws and regulations governing the funeral sector, this site could be one of the best examples of cemetery management. “It is therefore essential to encourage them to continue along this path, constantly ensuring respect for the environment and the preservation of human dignity, even after death,” added the chairman of the APK’s Environment and Land Use Planning Committee. « At Eden Cemetery, located in the city of Menkao and operational for a year, it has been found that environmental standards are generally respected. The Menkao area remains, to this day, an environmentally controlled space. However, managers have been asked to further revitalize the sites in order to optimize their use. Any plans for expansion must strictly comply with current standards, as cemeteries and morgues have a direct impact on human health, the environment, and the population. As such, the State exercises rigorous and meticulous control over these sensitive sectors, » he continued.
It was recommended that flowers and sustainable plant species be planted along the paths, in line with the principles of green belts and environmental preservation. The flowers currently present are likely to dry out quickly and do not fully meet ecological requirements. Overall, the efforts are encouraging. As the sites are still in the early stages of development, a further inspection will be carried out at a later date to assess progress in implementing the recommendations made.
« With regard to the Promised Earth Cemetery, it has been recommended that a minimum spacing of 50 centimeters be provided between graves to allow families to pay their respects in dignified conditions. To date, six bodies are buried there in conditions deemed acceptable, with clean walkways and modern landscaping. The Paradise Way Cemetery has held approximately 100 bodies since its creation. As for the Saint-Cross Bolingo Cemetery, which has sixty-six bodies, it generally complies with the rules regarding paths, although part of its space has been illegally divided up and sold by a traditional chief. The planting of decorative trees has been recommended in order to improve the setting, » said Mr. Mulumba. « The Immaculate Cemetery presents a particularly worrying picture, with disorderly waste management, a lack of trash cans, failure to respect the spacing between graves, poor alignment, and an inadequate fence. Firm recommendations have been made to comply with the rules in force, as at other sites, such as the City of Wisdom Cemetery, where there is a lack of space. Strong recommendations have been made to comply with current regulations, as is the case at other sites. At the City of Wisdom Cemetery, the lack of space between bodies and the overlapping of graves pose serious problems for the erection of gravestones. The total absence of plants, trees, flowers, or any greenery is also a major shortcoming requiring urgent action, » he concluded.