Pimping Inga

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Exploiting the Inga Rapids could make a lot of money and electricity, but there’s a snowball’s chance that the people of Democratic Republic of Congo will see much of either….

My last night in Bas Congo, we drove back from Mwanza Village shortly before sunset after a long day of visiting the area. As night overtook the day, we fell victim to a heavy rainstorm on an unlit road. The windshield wipers didn’t work and we could do nothing but pull over and wait for the storm to pass. Fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, an hour. In the dark, the rain pounded the car, taunting us. The wait was nothing really, but in that car, at the end of a long day, it was a lifetime. It made me wonder: How long do the people of Congo have to wait?