“Voice of the Peasant” to educate and inform citizens: a commitment to social and climate justice.
The project to degas the Kabuno basin, located in Kalehe territory, is raising deep concern among lakeside communities around Lake Kivu. Emmanuel Ndimwiza, an ecological awareness advocate, is sounding the alarm about the pollution risks associated with poor management of this operation. According to Valet Chebujongo, a civil society actor interviewed on site, gas emissions and the surfacing of contaminated sediments could seriously affect water quality, exposing populations to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. The lack of prior information only increases fears of a silent health disaster.
A local community leader from Kabuno emphasizes that fishing, livestock, and farming activities are directly dependent on the lake’s condition. She states that recent changes in water color and unusual fish deaths have been observed. Emmanuel Ndimwiza stresses that authorities must establish an independent monitoring protocol that includes local communities. Inaction or poor coordination could lead to irreversible biodiversity loss and forced migration around the basin.
A researcher and ecotoxicology expert also notes the potential release of heavy metals and chlorine-resistant pathogenic vibrios, which threaten the aquatic food chain. Emmanuel Ndimwiza calls on environmental organizations to invest in transparent impact studies and urges local populations to demand strict safety measures. The Kabuno basin is a fragile ecological heritage, and its preservation is essential for the future of generations living around Lake Kivu.
The Editorial Team
Kabuno on Alert: Emmanuel Ndimwiza Highlights the Health and Ecological Risks of Degassing Lake Kivu
