Lualaba Governor Demands People-Centered Development Along Lobito Corridor
The Lobito Corridor must first and foremost serve the interests of the Congolese people. This was the firm declaration made by Lualaba Governor Fifi Masuka on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, during the opening of the sixth edition of the Katanga Business Mining forum in Kolwezi.
Governor Masuka emphasized the urgency of transforming the Lobito Corridor from a mere export route into a vehicle for economic empowerment.
“It is more than urgent to make this corridor an axis of transformation for the Congolese people, not just a route for exporting minerals,” she stated in an appeal to Prime Minister Judith Suminwa.
She described the corridor as a strategic regional infrastructure capable of bolstering economic competitiveness.
“The Lobito Corridor must act as a catalyst for transforming Lualaba’s economy, through the creation of special economic zones, logistics hubs, industrial platforms, and manufacturing chains,” the governor noted.
Calling for inclusive governance, Governor Masuka reiterated that the corridor should contribute to the social and economic transformation of the Congolese people, not just facilitate mineral exports.
Lualaba Province, rich in mineral wealth, has long been focused on human capital development, resource beneficiation, and economic diversification under Masuka’s leadership.
She views these goals as collective challenges that require cooperation from all stakeholders.
The Lobito Corridor is a flagship infrastructure project designed to enhance the export of minerals from the resource-rich regions of the DRC and Zambia.
The initiative is backed by Presidents Félix Tshisekedi (DRC), João Lourenço (Angola), and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), who signed an agreement in Lobito to maximize the corridor’s use.
The corridor includes several strategic assets: the Port of Lobito, the Mineiro Terminal, Catumbela Airport, and the Benguela Railway.
On the Congolese side, it links the mining provinces of Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba, and Haut-Katanga. It also offers a critical alternative to the historically dominant road networks for exporting minerals to global markets.
Seen as a driver of regional economic integration and development, the Lobito Corridor strengthens cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
However, its long-term success will depend on addressing several challenges—particularly around equitable economic access, environmental sustainability, inclusive governance, and social impact.
To realize its full potential, the DRC must ensure that the benefits of the corridor are shared broadly across its population and aligned with national development goals
