KINSHASA | What new infrastructure to expect for the 14th Francophonie Summit in 2012?

[Pius]

Originally Posted by Mulopwe

Dear Puis,

Last summit was moved to Swiss instead of Madagascar because political instability. Election will take place last quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012 with new president taking over the office in April 2012. We don't have a year prior the summit to sort out things therefore;It is imperative to have fair and credible election.

To attract investors you don't need to invest in convention center , hotels and villas. Security should be first priority and rules of laws. South Africa, Kenya and Egypt all have invested massively in security and rule of law that is why they are competitive. Once investors realize that they can move goods and services from North to South , East to West with no problem and that there is an independent justice system establish in case a comfits arise , they will open wallets with no hesitation.

Next five years, DRC needs to invest in basic stuff: Roads , water supply, stable power supply, justice system etc..... We don't need to compete at this stage.

Mulopwe

Well Mulopwe, we all hope that the coming elections will be peaceful, free and fair and that the situation will not degenerate into bloodletting or political chaos, in which case no political activity, national or international, would be possible. The point I am trying to make is that given the fragility of the nascent democratic system and the attending unripe political culture, some kind of political unrest is likely to occur, whether elections are free and fair or not. One needs only to observe how politicians both within the ruling coalition and the opposition are fighting to the teeth to get a seat in the newly founded Independent National Electoral Commission to picture the situation at the end of the electoral process. The challenge will consist in circumscribing any trouble within a politically acceptable limit. This is an open secret and by granting the DRC the right to host the summit, the OIF took this factor into account.

Concerning the general situation in the DRC, the country is in such a parlous state as every sector of national life is a priority when it comes to conceiving of a right recovery policy. This means that all problems have to be tackled simultaneously. You suggest giving security absolute priority, but it is unrealistic to expect absolute security in the DRC any time soon. The DRC, even with the help of the UN or any other organization or country, cannot resolve the security problem in the eastern part of its territory, neither in the short nor in the middle term. This structural crisis is too complex and ancient to be solved by expedients. The quest for durable solutions will be a long and painful process. In the meantime it must be contained politically and militarily. The DRC is neither the first nor the only country in the international system to experience and try to recover from political, social and economic crisis in spite of an on-going low-intensity internal conflict. The Philippines, Columbia and Sri Lanka (until recently) are facing or used to face almost the same challenge, which did not prevent them from growing economically and maturing politically. Not all the DRC is burning. Security is important for the stabilization of the country but it does not apply with the same urgency to all national territory: many provinces have other priorities.

As I said before, to invest in basic infrastructure (including the reform of the justice system) we need to have the financial means, which we do not have (at least not enough to cover immediate needs); indebtedness is no longer an option; international generosity has been replaced with “donor fatigue”, mostly after the financial crisis. So, what are we going to do?

[Jim856796]

I did not know the CCIC Building was vacant, even for a long period of time (20 years). For the 2012 Francophonie Summit, there will be two existing hotels and one new hotel to accommodate the attendees of the Summit.

[BUTEMBO21]

Renovating CCIC will mean changing the entire building's Plumbling system, doors, windows, installing a new A/C system, entire electrical system, and it will be a different contractor. I find it more work than building a brand new building.

For same amount of money. I will choose to get a new building.

[Pius]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

I did not know the CCIC Building was vacant, even for a long period of time (20 years). For the 2012 Francophonie Summit, there will be two existing hotels and one new hotel to accommodate the attendees of the Summit.

The CCIC building is not vacant per se, but it is dysfunctional, e.i. all systems that are necessary for it to function as a modern multi-purpose building (plumbing, air conditioning, elevators, etc.) have been out of order for decades due to lack of maintenance.
There will be one new hotel? Which one? The only 5-star hotel under construction and big enough to accommodate large groups of attendees is the “Rakeen”, but the construction work has been on hold for some time. No resumption date is set by the developer. Maybe I am ill-informed and I will be glad if you can enlighten me on that.

[Pius]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Renovating CCIC will mean changing the entire building's Plumbling system, doors, windows, installing a new A/C system, entire electrical system, and it will be a different contractor. I find it more work than building a brand new building.

For same amount of money. I will choose to get a new building.

I am not an expert in building evaluation but I believe that the rehabilitation/conversion solution would be cost-effective. Karavia Hotel underwent a thorough renovation for $ 20 million. Do you think building and equipping a 5-star hotel of this size (200 rooms) would have cost such peanuts?

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by Pius

I am not an expert in building evaluation but I believe that the rehabilitation/conversion solution would be cost-effective. Karavia Hotel underwent a thorough renovation for $ 20 million. Do you think building and equipping a 5-star hotel of this size (200 rooms) would have cost such peanuts?

Karavia did cost $20 million to renovate. But the CCIC building wasn't meant to be a hotel. Karavia did (and that was easy no wonder it did cost less).

But CCIC building means more work ( means installing new and more Plumbing system for every floor). Do you imagine installing between 10-20 toilets and sinks for every floor? this building has an installed plumbing for only 1or 2 toilets. The A/C (Aircondition Condition) and electrical wiring for every single room. the old plumbing , electrical, and AC installations must be removed (to old and not meant for a hotel structures ). I almost forgot the telephone system . Adding absolutely new wars to create new rooms/floor.

No way its going to cost peanut money.

[Pius]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Karavia did cost $20 million to renovate. But the CCIC building wasn't meant to be a hotel. Karavia did (and that was easy no wonder it did cost less).

But CCIC building means more work ( means installing new and more Plumbing system for every floor). Do you imagine installing between 10-20 toilets and sinks for every floor? this building has an installed plumbing for only 1or 2 toilets. The A/C (Aircondition Condition) and electrical wiring for every single room. the old plumbing , electrical, and AC installations must be removed (to old and not meant for a hotel structures ). I almost forgot the telephone system . Adding absolutely new wars to create new rooms/floor.

No way its going to cost peanut money.

As I said, I am not an expert in that field, but one thing is for certain: this building cost the state a lot of money; it added to the debt we are struggling to get rid of. Its structure is still intact and it has a potential to be economically profitable. Money invested in its renovation will not be wasted. What is needed is an objective assessment of the renovation cost. If it turns out to be less costly and more profitable to renovate and keep as an office building rather than convert into a hotel, fine and so shall we proceed. But leaving it in its current state is irresponsible.

[brisavoine]

Pourquoi vous vous parlez en anglais entre vous, alors qu'on est tous francophones ici ? Dans une thread consacré à la Francophonie en plus.

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by brisavoine

Pourquoi vous vous parlez en anglais entre vous, alors qu'on est tous francophones ici ? Dans une thread consacré à la Francophonie en plus.

Je suis plus confortable en Anglais qu'en Francais. Meme chose avec la plus par de Forumiers ici.

[brisavoine]

Oui mais vous vous coupez des forumeurs au pays.

[Pius]

Originally Posted by brisavoine

Pourquoi vous vous parlez en anglais entre vous, alors qu'on est tous francophones ici ? Dans une thread consacré à la Francophonie en plus.

Votre question est pertinente et légitime. En effet, il peut sembler paradoxal que dans un forum sur un pays francophone les forumeurs s’expriment en anglais, ce qui de fait, comme vous le dites si bien, exclut les non locuteurs d’anglais du pays.

Cependant, cette situation, si paradoxale soit-elle, est facile à comprendre (et à excuser). En effet, la plupart des initiateurs et animateurs de ce forum sont nés ou ont grandi - et vivent -dans des pays anglophones. Ce forum est le lieu de partage de la nostalgie et de l’amour du pays d’origine. Il est, par conséquent, normal qu’ils s’expriment dans la langue qui leur est plus habituelle : celle du pays d’adoption. Quant aux forumeurs du pays qui pourrait se sentir exclus par ce choix linguistique, ils sont libres de s’exprimer en français, et beaucoup le font. La liberté linguistique qui est de mise dans ce forum est le seul moyen de rassembler tous les intéressés. Je crois savoir que les autres forums appliquent la même politique.

[brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Pius

la plupart des initiateurs et animateurs de ce forum sont nés ou ont grandi - et vivent -dans des pays anglophones. Ce forum est le lieu de partage de la nostalgie et de l’amour du pays d’origine. Il est, par conséquent, normal qu’ils s’expriment dans la langue qui leur est plus habituelle : celle du pays d’adoption.

Comme on dit, c'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron. Plus ils pratiqueront leur français, plus ils s'amélioreront.

[Nijal]

Originally Posted by brisavoine

Pourquoi vous vous parlez en anglais entre vous, alors qu'on est tous francophones ici ? Dans une thread consacré à la Francophonie en plus.

Oui, j'avoue que cela m'avait fort étonné moi aussi.
Enfin bon, comme le dit Prius, ça peut se comprendre... Mais j'ai aussi l'impression que les gens qui interviennent sur ce forum et qui vivent effectivement en RDC sont très peu nombreux voire inexistants!

Étonnant quand même un forum de pays où la (quasi?) totalité des intervenants ne vivent pas dans ce pays!

[young po]

Parler en Anglais permet d'eviter les trolls politique comme on en voit dans la quasi totalite des forums Congolais.
Effectivement, il y a moins d'intervenants, mais au moins on reste concentre sur le sujet (infrastructure).
Autre chose les Congolais vivant en RDC ont pour la plupart pas acces a internet et ceux qui ont acces postent tres rarement sur les forums.

[brisavoine]

Originally Posted by young po

Parler en Anglais permet d'eviter les trolls politique comme on en voit dans la quasi totalite des forums Congolais.

Des trolls on en voit énormément aussi dans le forum africain de SSC. Simplement ce sont des trolls anti-francophones.

Originally Posted by young po

Autre chose les Congolais vivant en RDC ont pour la plupart pas acces a internet et ceux qui ont acces postent tres rarement sur les forums.

Le progression du nombre d'internautes en RDC est phénoménale. En juin 2010 il y avait 365,000 internautes en RDC d'après l'Union internationale des télécommunications, alors qu'ils n'étaient que 500 en l'an 2000. Rien qu'entre 2009 et 2010, le nombre d'internautes en RDC est passé de 290,000 à 365,000, soit une progression de 26% en un an.

[BUTEMBO21]

La plus par de internautes Congolais son plus dans le truc comme la music , le Football et la politic (a cause des situation au pay).

Ici sur SSC ce plutot les infrastructures , il ya meme pas tros de construction dans le pays.

[Karavia]

J'ajouterai, en politique on cherche la confrontation, on contredit sans apporter aucune preuve, il suffit que la tête du gars ne vous reviennes pas, on se radicalise. A croire que tous le monde a fait sciences po! Tandis que lorsqu'il faut apporter des faits palpables (ex dans son domaine de compétence), vous remarquez très vite les limites des uns des autres, c'est plus flagrant!

[Saint Maur]

Je me suis toujours dit qu'il fallait un sous titre "Discussion en Français" tout comme l'Angola a celui "Discussões em Português".
Bien entendu que les posts anglais sont acceptés, c'est tout de même un forum anglophone à la base.
Mais ne pas préciser que dans cette sous section l'on y parle aussi Français, c'est se couper des forumeurs Congolais. Forumeurs bien plus nombreux qu'on ne le pense. Il suffit de voir le nombre de blogs congolais, par exemple celui de Cédric Kalonji.

Après, les trolls politiques et les discussions autres que celles d'experts en architecture, il suffit de lire l'Oasis pour voir que l'argument ne tient pas. Elle en est remplie malgré qu'elle soit en anglais.

[kaps76]

Juste pour dire que le thread oasis est un peu du divertissement, donc on peut y trouver du n'importe quoi...meme la politique.

Pour revenir a notre sujet, lors d'une entrevue a la presse du 06 Nov dernier, le gouverneur Kimbuta a revele qu'il existait un plan de 80 millions de dollars pour la construction de la cite de la Francophonie, en plus de la construction d'un hotel.

When I have a little bit of time, I will give the summary of this hour and half long interview between him and the media. The interview can be found on topcongo web site.

[Pius]

As far as Hotel facilities are concerned, Kinshasa should be ready to host the 14th Francophonie summit in late 2012. Apart from the existing 5-star hotels (Grand Hotel and Memling), four more which are under construction or renovation (CTC, Kadima, Fleuve Congo and, hopefully, Novotel) will be added on the list. The Novotel Hotel was topped out in the 1990’s in preparation for the Francophonie summit which was to have taken place in Kinshasa but was relocated to another venue due to political unrest. The hotel, which is ideally located on the Boulevard du 30 juin, has since been abandoned to rot. Its rehabilitation should be easy and cost-effective and it can be done in 18 months, like Karavia hotel in Lubumbashi.

Novotel Hotel with Onatra and Rakeen buildings in the background