Voix du Paysan, training and informing citizens, a commitment to social and climate justice.
At Emmanuel boat port, in the heart of the city of Bukavu, a distressing sight imposes itself, water heavily laden with plastic waste, ranging from used bottles to floating packaging, abandoned en masse on the surface of Lake Kivu. This scene is unfortunately not an isolated one. According to several nearby residents, this situation results from a glaring lack of waste management and the irresponsible behavior of some port users. We are helplessly witnessing the suffocation of our lake, protests one citizen, denouncing the inaction of local authorities. An exasperated population points to widespread indifference despite repeated calls for concrete measures. Lake Kivu, a source of life for thousands of families, is gradually being transformed into a floating dumping ground.
A threat to aquatic biodiversity, an ignored ecological emergency
The ecological consequences of this plastic pollution are alarming. Waste accumulating day after day is suffocating the aquatic fauna and flora of Lake Kivu, durably compromising the balance of this vital ecosystem. Fishers already report the decline of certain species, while waste ingested by fish threatens the entire food chain. We no longer eat safely, and no one protects us, says a resident of a neighboring district. The biodiversity of Lake Kivu, once rich and diverse, is now in danger, yet government responses are slow to materialize. The absence of recycling mechanisms and weak sanctions against polluters worsen a situation that citizens describe as catastrophic and neglected by decision-makers.
Public health at risk, citizens sound the alarm
Beyond environmental damage, the health of lakeside populations is also at stake.
The breakdown of plastics in the water releases toxic substances that contaminate fish consumed daily, encouraging the emergence of waterborne and food-related illnesses. Residents of Bukavu express fear in the face of water that has become poison, in their words. They are calling for urgent cleanup campaigns, greater accountability for port users, and the installation of plastic waste collection systems. We are being left to die slowly, declares an angry citizen. The fight against pollution in Lake Kivu has become a true matter of survival for residents, who are now demanding strong action to save their environment and their health.
The Editorial Team
Lake Kivu suffocated by plastic, a citizen alarm in the face of worrying pollution observed at Emmanuel Port in Bukavu
