National Urbanization Strategy and Socioeconomic Development of Zaire

Abstract

Like most former European colonies, Zaire has retained a colonial structure in both its economic and urban systems. The paper argues that maintaining such systems is inappropriate for the country's economic development. Considering that the urban population is increasing fast and that the existing urban system is skewed in favor of one city, Kinshasa, the paper makes the following points:(1) Urbanization strategy should be linked with industrialization strategy. The latter should be designed according to the spatial distribution of the existing resources.(2) It is necessary to improve conditions in urban centers, which will house the majority of the Zairean population in decades to come. The establishment of autonomous local governments is a way of insuring the efficiency of cities and towns.