Maintenance of waterways in Kinshasa presented as the main ecological emergency (An environmental expert)

Kinshasa, April 24^th; 2025(CPA) – The upkeep of watercourses was presented as the main ecological emergency in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by an environmental expert during an interview on Wednesday, as part of World Earth Day, celebrated on April 22^nd each year. ‘In Kinshasa, the main ecological emergency is to maintain or take care of the rivers, canals and banks of the Congo River. Our waterways have become the equivalent of garbage dumps, in contrast to the trend in the world’s major capitals, whether in Europe or Asia. They need to be embellished so that they can serve as ideal places for relaxation and entertainment’, said Angelique Mbelu, an environmental expert. For MS Mbelu, who is also a facilitator with the national land coalition, the second ecological emergency is the planting of trees. ‘This planting will serve to retain the earth, aerate the city and cool it down. We need to plant ornamental trees, but also fruit trees. We’ve noticed that Kinshasa’s microclimates are changing and moving towards a destabilization that is harmful to the population because of high temperatures, and the city is losing its coolness’, she explained. She mentioned the adoption of agro-ecology in the city of Kinshasa on empty spaces as the third ecological emergency.  ‘We need to adopt agro-ecology in Kinshasa, with a system of market gardening in empty spaces, which will also make it possible to compost domestic waste’, said the expert.  She also noted that International Earth Day focuses on protecting the planet and the environment. Under the theme ‘Open your eyes to preserve biodiversity’, this day aims to raise awareness of the fight against climate change and the preservation of resources. ACP/