A local entrepreneur has created an app that allows mine managers in the Democratic Republic of Congo to follow the movements of those working in the pit.
This follows an observation of accidents and landslides happening every year at the mines claiming dozens of lives. Victoire Shukuru is the founder of Min Security app had a view to reducing mortality rates and in conjunction with an electronic belt, the system integrates GPS tracking technology that also allows measuring other variables such as temperature and oxygen levels.
Safety belt
“This is a safety belt, if at a moment something dangerous were to happen to us down here, they will be alerted quickly on the other side and we will be saved. Every time a digger wants to go down the pit, he wears a belt which has a GPS system that facilitates the mine managers seeing all the movements of the diggers underground. But also, thanks to the same belt, we can see the variation of the temperature underground, which allows the mine manager to see the highest variation in temperature and enables him to send oxygen to rescue people underground”, said the entrepreneur,” explains Shukuru.
Accidents in mines are frequent in the country and security is often not a priority. The consequences however can be devastating. Having experienced a similar tragedy served as inspiration to entrepreneur Victoire Shukuru.
“When I witnessed this drama, it revolutionized something inside me and pushed me to find certain solutions. Given that I am in the digital field, I said to myself I had to create a digital solution that can help our brothers who – for lack of other opportunities – resort to mining to find a means of survival,” says Shukuru.
