The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works (French: Ministère des Infrastructures et Travaux Publics, often abbreviated MITP) is a government ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo responsible for planning, developing, constructing, and maintaining the country's public infrastructure, as well as formulating and implementing policies governing major infrastructure systems such as roads, ports, airports, railways, and hydroelectric installations. It also directs the construction and maintenance of public facilities such as educational institutions, healthcare centers, and government buildings. The ministry's headquarters are located on Roi Baudouin Avenue in Gombe, Kinshasa.
It supervises civil engineering and infrastructure projects funded by the Congolese government and international partners. Its responsibilities include preparing and monitoring public procurement contracts related to infrastructure studies and construction projects, promoting appropriate construction standards and engineering techniques, regulating construction companies and consulting firms in the sector, and ensuring compliance with technical and legal requirements. In addition to infrastructure development, the ministry manages certain public assets, including the state vehicle fleet, fuel stocks, and government-owned real estate. Since the Democratic Republic of the Congo's independence in 1960, the ministry has played a significant role in shaping and modernizing the country's infrastructure network. The ministry is currently headed by John Banza Lunda, who has served as Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works since August 2025.
Responsibilities
Design, construction, modernization, development, planning, and maintenance of road, port, airport, railway, non-concessioned hydroelectric, educational, health, social, tourism, and sports infrastructure, as well as public buildings and facilities, in collaboration, where necessary, with the sectoral ministries concerned with infrastructure projects; Design, construction, development, and maintenance of national drainage, sanitation, and anti-erosion works; Preparation, awarding, monitoring, and supervision of public procurement contracts related to civil engineering studies and works financed by the Government and external partners, in collaboration with the ministries responsible for finance, budget, and planning; Technical and financial monitoring and control of studies and works carried out either by public administration or by private contractors; Expert assessment and counter-expertise concerning studies related to public works and state movable property; Promotion of construction materials and techniques; Registration and accreditation of companies, consulting firms, and independent professionals operating in the construction sector; Inventory, analysis, and interpretation of data related to infrastructure and equipment; Development of construction standards; Monitoring compliance with legal, regulatory, and technical standards related to construction; Formulation of reconstruction policy in collaboration with the relevant ministries; Management of the State vehicle fleet; Management of State fuel stocks and monitoring of fuel consumption; Management of real estate assets within the state's public domain, as well as all related equipment.
History Since the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, every government that has succeeded one another has maintained a ministerial portfolio responsible for infrastructure, which was originally known as the Ministry of Public Works. Over time, the designation of this institution changed in accordance with the political orientations and strategic priorities established by the country's leaders. During the First Republic, it operated as the Ministry of Public Works before being renamed the Ministry of Public Works, Communications and Transport between 1964 and 1965, after which it reverted to its former title of Ministry of Public Works, Territorial Planning and Urban Development from 1965 to 1997 during the Second Republic, and later the Ministry of Emergency Works, a title it retained until January 2001.
Between 2001 and 2005, it again took the name Ministry of Public Works while also assuming responsibilities related to territorial administration and development. In 2005, under the presidency of Joseph Kabila, and as part of his initiative to modernize national infrastructure through the "Five Projects of the Republic" program, the institution was renamed the Ministry of Infrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction, with additional responsibilities at certain times for territorial planning, urban planning, and housing. However, a presidential ordinance issued on 27 March 2020, which defines the organization and functioning of the Congolese government and the responsibilities of its ministries, restored the name Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works.
Ministers The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works has been successively led since 1960 by the following ministers: MinisterPortfolioAssumed officeLeft officeAlphonse IlungaInfrastructure and Public Works30 June 196012 September 1960Joseph MasangaInfrastructure and Public Works19 September 19609 February 1961Alphonse IlungaInfrastructure and Public Works9 February 196111 July 1962Albert DelvauxPublic Works11 July 196218 April 1963Jules Léon KodichoTransport, Communications and Public Works10 July 196418 October 1965Albert DelvauxPublic Works18 October 196528 November 1965Jean BolikangoPublic Works28 November 196525 October 1966Alphonse IlungaPublic Works16 August 196831 July 1969Alexis Tambwe MwambaPublic Works6 June 19942 April 1997Agnes Loteta DimandjaPublic Works, Territorial Planning and Urban Development11 April 199720 May 1997Étienne MbayaEmergency Works20 May 199716 July 1997Gustave Bishikuabo KubakaPublic WorksJuly 1997July 1998Anatole Tshumbala BishikwaboPublic Works, Territorial Administration and DevelopmentJuly 1998March 1999Jean Yagi SitoloPublic WorksMarch 1999UnknownJosé Endundo BonangePublic WorksUnknown30 June 2003José Makila SumandaPublic Works30 June 200317 February 2005Pierre Lumbi OkongoInfrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction17 February 200519 February 2010Fridolin Kasweshi MisokaTerritorial Planning, Urban Planning and Housing19 February 201014 November 2016Thomas LuhakaInfrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction19 December 20166 September 2019Willy Ngoopos SunzhelInfrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction6 September 201926 April 2021Alexis Gisaro MuvunyiInfrastructure and Public Works26 April 202112 August 2025John Banza LundaInfrastructure and Public Works12 August 2025Incumbent
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