DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Thousands of people left homeless in Kinshasa as government cleans up capital

Record ID: 454959

  • Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Thousands of people left homeless in Kinshasa as government cleans up capital
  • Date: 11th July 2007
  • Summary: CHILD WHISTLING ON STAIRS, SOLDIER PUSHING ANOTHER CHILD AWAY
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVAB320W2R7PS3YPWIES0Y0ANPJ8
  • Story Text: A government drive to clean up the capital Kinshasa has left hundreds of families homeless. The government has moved to reclaim public buildings from squatters and destroyed houses built on government land.
    Thousands of people were evicted from a building in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday (July 7). The evictions are part of a government drive to clean up the city.
    Most of them are the families of soldiers who have been living in the former medical institute for more than 10 years.
    Soldiers took over the building in 1991 after not being paid for months under the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko. The large colonial rooms had been carved up into small residences which were often separated by only a curtain.
    During the chaotic evictions dozens of soldiers and police officers circled the building and shouted for the families to leave with their possessions. The government had been announcing its intention to reclaim the building, but most of the families here thought it was just talk.
    "This morning at six 'o'clock we heard whistling and shouting that all the women should pack up all their possessions and come out of the medical institute, that's why we are like this, I would like to ask what sort of government is this, what sort of government?" said Liliane Nyulili, a soldier's wife.
    A soldier said they have been living there because of corruption and neglect by the government.
    "The people in power only work for their children and to build big houses. For us, the soldiers, nothing. Look at me, my clothes, this is all I have. I don't have the money to buy a change of civilian clothes." said Celestin Muatesengi.
    Those soldiers still serving were moved to a temporary site outside the city.
    The clean-up operation is now in its second week. On Monday (July 9), bulldozers also demolished homes across the road from the institute. But some of the owners say they had paid large bribes to obtain the relevant building permits. The Minister of Housing was suspended on Friday (July 6) after being accused of corrupt practices.
    "We have among us people who paid 1,200, 2,000 even 3,000 US dollars. They have destroyed everything without taking into account the fact that our money went into the national coffers," said Placide Piana, the owner of one villa which had been turned to rubble.
    In an attempt to recuperate even the smallest amount of their investment, people were selling the stones from their flattened homes for 25 US cents a piece.
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