Matete is one of the oldest and most densely populated communes in Kinshasa. Originally designed to accommodate a much smaller population, the area has been stretched far beyond its capacity due to rapid urban migration, population growth, and inadequate expansion of public infrastructure.
The market shown in the image, though crucial to the local economy, operates in chaotic conditions. Vendors sell fruits, vegetables, and second-hand clothes just inches away from mounds of uncollected garbage and dirty water. The roads if they can still be called that are nearly impassable, filled with deep, slippery mud that gets worse during Kinshasa’s heavy rainy seasons. Vehicles and pedestrians alike must wade through filth, putting themselves at constant risk of accidents, infections, and diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria.
For most of the vendors and buyers here, this market is not a choice but a necessity. With high levels of unemployment and informal labor dominating Kinshasa’s economy, small market stalls represent the only source of income for thousands of families. Many sellers come from distant neighborhoods and set up shop early each day, braving unsanitary conditions to earn barely enough to survive.
“Some days we go home with nothing, and even worse, with a cold or diarrhea,” says Josephine, a mother of four who sells cooked cassava and fish near the muddy roadside. “But what other option do we have? There’s no clean market, no support from the government.”
Despite promises by local and national officials, infrastructure development in Matete has been woefully inadequate. Garbage collection is irregular or entirely absent in many parts of the commune. Drainage systems are either blocked or nonexistent, causing flooding every time it rains. Electricity is unreliable, and clean water access remains limited in several zones.
The roads, as seen in the photo, have been left to rot. Without proper paving, stormwater management, or maintenance, they deteriorate rapidly, especially under the weight of informal market activity and poor urban design.
Over the years, residents have repeatedly appealed to municipal and provincial authorities for intervention. Although speeches and campaign promises are common during election seasons, tangible results are rarely seen. The disconnect between government policies and on-the-ground realities continues to grow.
Civil society groups, religious leaders, and youth movements in Matete have organized clean-up campaigns and awareness drives, but these efforts are not enough to offset years of structural neglect. A systemic solution is needed one that includes investment in roads, drainage, waste management, and proper market infrastructure.
Kinshasa, now home to over 17 million people, is one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centers. Yet, its expansion has outpaced the city’s ability to provide basic services. Areas like Matete, which once represented vibrant centers of community and trade, are now sinking under the weight of mismanagement and poverty.
The photo from Matete is more than just an image it is a window into a larger crisis facing Kinshasa’s underprivileged communes. It is a call to the authorities, international partners, and citizens to act with urgency and unity. Without strategic urban renewal, inclusive development policies, and responsible governance, neighborhoods like Matete will continue to suffer and with them, the dreams of millions of Congolese struggling to live with dignity in their own capital.
