During her speech on 27 September (FWB celebration), Kathryn Brahy, Wallonia-Brussels’ general delegate in DRC, stated that the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles wishes to “actively” participate in making the Kin Bopeto campaign a success.
A programme of unprecedented magnitude
The “Kin Bopeto” (which in Lingala means “Kinshasa-Cleanliness”) programme is intended to clean up the city of Kinshasa. This is a programme which has 363 million Euro in financing (20% of the city’s budget) and which is going to mobilise the entire population. It also involves a fleet of 300 trucks which have been mobilised for the event. The programme has been launched by Gentiny Ngobila, the Governor of Kinshasa.
It is a massive undertaking as numerous abandoned wrecked vehicles litter some of the city’s streets. Every day Kinshasa produces more than 9000 tonnes of waste. Apart from the dedicated budgetary and technical means, mobilisation of the entire population is vital to the success of the operation.
A commitment more than just talk
“We truly think that, here and now, there is a unique opportunity to improve the life of Congolese people and Congolese who are, as we know, all living under great hardship. Humbly we are here to help. Let us all seize this chance! As is aptly said at home, we are here and all in it together”, stated Kathryn Brahy.
In other sectors, she added that with the Wallonia-Brussels cooperation agency, the APEFE, the Walloon Export Agency, the universities and Walloon companies, coordination is desired with all their Congolese partners and all the participants. This represents numerous opportunities in the sectors of farming, fish farming, water, electricity, aid to young people and the media. But this cooperation also concerns supporting decentralisation and an improvement of the living conditions of the Congolese population and Congolese.
A major cultural dimension
She also stressed the efforts which are being made to register the Congolese rumba on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: “We are fighting to provide more support, because the multiple and valuable initiatives by the Congolese cultural operators are really worth the effort.”
Concerning health and the outlook
She announced for next year, signing of a new Joint Committee work programme, the arrival of mutual associations to support “setting up a real health insurance cover and an economic mission by our entrepreneurs, who I feel are increasingly motivated”. Kathryn Brahy praised “the lovely visit by the President of the Republic to Belgium last week” and noted that the two countries have “made a great start” and therefore, “excellent and new prospects are opening up for us to the benefit of the Congolese and Belgian populations”.
We recall that Wallonia is participating in preparing for the Francophone Games which will be held in Kinshasa in July 2021.
On 27 September, Wallonia-Brussels reaffirmed its major presence in Kinshasa and draws special attention to the exciting prospects that the excellent relationship between the DRC and Belgium hold for us.