© JUNIOR KANNAH/AFP
The Tata Raphaël stadium used during the Francophonie Games in Kinshasa in 2022 is currently under rehabilitation. Here it is in 2016.
Eight months before the Francophonie games are held in Kinshasa, there is still uncertainty. The delays accumulated in the preparation raise fears of a new postponement or a relocation of this sporting and cultural event scheduled for August 19 to 28, 2022 in the Congolese capital. On the side of the Congolese authorities, we are nevertheless confident.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
Félix Tshisekedi thought he was doing well by appointing his High Representative to the National Committee for these Games. He said by this decision that he wanted to personally follow the progress of the work, but everything did not go as planned.
For example, the Games are supposed to cost around 48 million dollars, according to the first specifications agreed with the International Committee of the Games of La Francophonie.
But until October, things were not so clear. A budget of around $ 200 million was presented on the basis of contracts with vague outlines signed with certain companies.
In the end, almost everything was started over. The High Representative of the Head of State on the National Games Committee has been dismissed and a new board has been set up. Isidore Kwandja is the new director of the national committee for these ninth Games and comments on the situation: “ We found a dire situation. The works were practically at a standstill. There were a number of contracts that were signed without following the procedure. The government had thus decided to set up a commission to investigate all this. ».
Failure is not allowed for the government
Today, the re-contracting phase is almost over. If disbursements are made quickly, work will resume in January, we are reassured, and basic infrastructure will be delivered before June.
A plan B is also planned with the use of the facilities of the University of Kinshasa as a games village. Isidore Kwandja is confident in him: “ These games were wanted by the DRC. The authorities are doing everything possible to ensure that these games take place. They will take place in August 2022 in the DRC ».
For the Congolese government, these games must be saved at all costs. Failure is not allowed had even underlined the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
