Mbanza kongo: The Angolan government has allocated 95 million euros for the restoration of the main monuments and historical sites of the Historic Center of Mbanza Kongo in northern Zaire province. Biluka Nsakala Nsenga, the head of the technical office and manager of the Participatory Management Committee of the Historic Center of Mbanza Kongo, disclosed the information on Tuesday during a lecture that marked African World Heritage Day on May 5.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Nsenga highlighted the old Cathedral (Kulumbimbi) as the focus of this year's renovations due to its poor state of conservation. He noted that the funds will be used to requalify some areas of the World Heritage city to enhance the appearance of Mbanza Kongo. This includes the requalification of the twelve water fountains surrounding the city, which were among the features that led to Mbanza Kongo's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2017.
Nsenga also mentioned that in past years, the Mbanza Kongo airport received many planes, exacerbating the cracking of the old cathedral's ruins, which are located a few meters from the local runway. To prevent further deterioration, the government has secured a suitable company to carry out the restoration work at Kulumbimbi. The program for May 5, African World Heritage Day, included local activities, with a focus on lectures.
