Stability

We have a presidential and parliamentary election scheduled for 28^th November. The experts say there is no hope that the electoral Commission will ready for that date, but for now, that’s the date everyone is working towards.

President Kabila’s electoral slogan is – to paraphrase – more of the same, which brings a wry smile to most people’s faces. Kabila’s strategy is to emphasize that political stability is bringing economic growth, and certainly, in the two years I’ve been in Kinshasa, one can see real improvements. The most remarkable changes have been the roads. We even have traffic lights for the first time.

But also, all over Kinshasa buildings that were derelict are being replaced or rebuilt. Construction has started on a new project called “La Cité du Fleuve” which involves building an artificial island in the River Congo on which will be built a Dubai-style exclusive town. There are also glossy skyscrapers being built by middle eastern money, on some of which the American Embassy has placed an official embargo because they say the financiers are linked to Hezballah.

There are new restaurants which would not be out of place in any city in the world, even though the cuisine is perhaps more straightforward.

Outside Kinshasa the development is less obvious, but many main roads are being rebuilt and places that had been inaccessible for decades are suddenly on the map.

This development has taken place in spite of vacillation from the throne, as Kabila’s political power is being tested. But at least there has been political stability for five years.

But is this enough? For example, if you are a civil servant, getting no more than a pittance (around $80 a month at the highest level), which is often paid late, how do you feel? And, nice those these symbols of progress might look to the residents of Kinshasa, for most people in the DRC what has really changed?

For some people things have gone backwards. Our driver went home for his father’s funeral to a village in the north of the country. He was shocked to see that roads which were open and functioning six years ago were now impassable due to broken bridges and encroachment by the jungle.

And as for safety and security, I’ve just seen the fortnightly report from our office in Bukavu which mentions that:

· The offices of the electoral commission in the town (which is the capital of the Province of South Kivu) were burnt down by arson about three weeks ago. No alternative office has been found, so they must survive in the ground floor where the damage was less severe. The fire damage has made the building very unsafe, and the walls are dangerously cracked. And, since there’s no roof, water is dripping through the ceiling.

· Last week the army attacked the troops of a warlord in a nearby rural area which led to mass flight by civilians into the towns.

· Someone who had refused to allow a soldier to “confiscate” his mobile phone had been shot dead by the soldier. The next day the students revolted and the local market was pillaged in the ensuing riots.

· The minibus of a local NGO was attacked by armed men, and seven men suspected of being Tutsi were killed with machetes.

· In another small town the principal of an elementary school principal and her three children were killed, allegedly by Rwandan Hutu militants.

· Two passengers in a car crossing a bridge between two districts which is protected by an armed guard were beaten by armed masked men, and had a substantial sum of money stolen.

That’s two weeks worth of news from the area around one town.

So if Kabila is promising more of the same, you can see why many people won’t vote for him.