Kinshasa, May 29th, 2025(ACP) – The draft law on the safe, secure and peaceful use of ionizing radiation and nuclear applications was accepted on Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by the majority of national MPs during the plenary session, the CPA learnt on Thursday from a press release issued by the Minister for Scientific Research. ‘The Minister in charge of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation defended, on behalf of the DRC government, the draft law on the safe, secure and peaceful use of ionizing radiation and nuclear applications, which was accepted by the majority of national MPs,’ it read.
The Minister for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation explained that the word ionizing radiation can mean that when you are in an environment where there is uranium, for example, the invisible rays emitted by this mineral can disorganize, disturb or restructure substances, in particular haemoglobin and certain molecules, preventing them from functioning in the human body. As a result of the ionizing radiation, the person affected becomes ill. This specialist in aeronautical and space medicine declared himself proud and happy to see the DRC acquire a good law, which had been cruelly lacking for several years. ‘Once promulgated, this law will enable us to manage a large nuclear field of mining waste that emits ionizing radiation, causing illnesses that we pay no attention to’, he said.
He indicated that thanks to this law, the government will be able to prevent and treat its compatriots against these dangers linked to our resources. The President of the National Assembly, Vital Kamerhe, in turn congratulated Minister Gilbert Kabanda on the clarity and conciseness with which he had answered the fourteen questions put to him by the national MPs. Following Minister Gilbert Kabanda were the Commissioner General for Atomic Energy, Professor Steve Mwanza Kamunga, the Secretary General of the ministry responsible, Ndambu Odon, and the Legal Adviser, Christian Chimanuka. CPA/