Why were Lemba Matete and Ndjili developed after 1950?

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Kinshasa Skyline view of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The development of Lemba, Matete, and parts of Ndjili after 1950 was primarily driven by the need to provide housing for the workforce employed in the newly established industrial district of Limete.1

During this period, Kinshasa (then known as Léopoldville) experienced rapid population growth, jumping from 250,000 residents in 1950 to 1,500,000 by 1971. As the city expanded, these southeastern areas were specifically constructed to accommodate the labor requirements of the growing industrial sector.21