Unfortunately, power, bureaucracy, and indecisiveness continue to hamper our growth potential. The recent cacophony between the presidential decree and the provincial ministerial decision of Bukavu is living proof of this.
Lately, the DRC’s first gold refinery saw its inauguration postponed due to a withdrawal of operating authorization. The Ministry of Mines, led by Minister Antoinette N’Samba, withdrew the approval for the mining company Congo Gold Refinery, based in Bukavu, citing “non-compliance with social obligations”.
The decision is surprising and provokes a feeling of indignation, not only because it hampers economic growth, but also because it seems to be based on a misinterpretation of the mining code. According to experts, processing entities are not subject to the specifications, an obligation that only applies to holders of mining rights and quarrying operation authorizations.
It is shocking that the Minister of Mines uses her power to hinder the inauguration of a facility that could have transformed our economy. This gold refinery, the first in the DRC, is a modern plant of almost 1200 m2, capable of processing 200 kg of gold per day and 2 tons per month.
This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of our government, the interpretation of laws, and the administration’s willingness to encourage economic development.
Is Minister N’Samba’s decision motivated by the well-being of the Congolese people? Or is it another manifestation of a dysfunctional power system that continues to hinder the economic momentum of our nation?
It is high time for the authorities to take bold actions to rectify this situation. The Congolese people deserve better than this cacophony of decisions. We deserve a government that works for the well-being of all, not for the ambition of a few.
This is not just a matter of a gold refinery, it’s a matter of economic development, prosperity for all, and government responsibility. It’s time for popular anger to be heard and for the authorities to react accordingly. The future of the DRC depends on it.
