Work on the government’s PDL-145T project has been suspended for more than five months in Dekese, Kasai province, according to local administrator Patrick Bassa quoted by state media Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP).

Engineers and construction workers stopped work, demanding payment of their salaries and arrears before resuming operations. The first phase of the project in Dekese includes construction of an administrative building, a health center in Ilongaba, and a primary school in Bosenge. None of these facilities have been completed so far.

In Kasai province, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plans 69 infrastructure projects under the PDL-145T: 41 schools, 23 health centers, and five administrative buildings.

The PDL-145T monitoring unit, quoted by ACP, said the projects are at various stages of completion. Twenty-six sites are still in the foundation stage, 17 are under wall construction, and 16 are in the finishing phase. Ten sites have been completed, with eight officially handed over.

BK