Congo chronicle 23

May 11 - May 28 1998

sources: ACP, Le Soir, NCN

Government activities

On May 11, President Kabila visited for the first time Mbandaka, the capital of Mobutu's province Equateur. He was rather affected by the warm welcome that he received from the population of this place. In his speech he promised some concrete things: electricity, good drinkwater and work.

Also on May 11, the government of Congo made an agreement with his northern neighboring country, the Central African Republic (CAR). The agreement includes a common approach of security problems especially that of the border region.

On May 17 the first anniversary of the power capture by the AFDL army and the ousting of Mobutu was celebrated. Festivities were organised in the Stadium of the Martyrs in Kinshasa,e.g. a parade, in the presence of dignitaries and many thousands of people. Neighboring countries were represented by presidents of the CAR, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and ministers of Burundi and Congo- Brazzaville. Kabila reminded the deplorable situation of the country found by the AFDL at their coming in. The results of the past year are positive according to Kabila, considering the improvement of the food situation, stabilisation of prices and the new military discipline. Given the lack of support from the international community for the reconstruction of Congo, the people has to rise up on its own power.

Letter of a reverend

At the occasion of May 17 a reverend, living near Bandundu, wrote a letter to NCN, from which we give some interesting quotations. This reverend, Glen Chapman, writes in his letter of May 21 as follows: "Those of us who have lived under the Mobutu regime, and who have the opportunity to compare our experiences with the current situation of the country were distressed to read the negatively biased press reports during the anniversary of the 'liberation' of Congo.(..) I would like to refute the impression that the Kabila government is such a disappointment. Let us not forget the tremendous disavantage from which he started. Let us remember that a year ago, president Kabial found a land that had been self destructing for thirty years, he found a people demoralized and discouraged, with no leadership besides the military who were a law unto themselves. It is difficult to compare Mobutu's Presidency to Kabila's. (...) President Mobutu had 32 years (along with foreign aid) to leave the country in it's pitiful state, President Kabila has done much (even with what he calls a foreign embargo) to reverse the downward spiral that he inherited from his predecessor. I would like to highlight some of the negative trends that have been halted and perhaps even reversed from our vantage point.
A.The new military presence brings an image of discipline and respect for human rights.(...)
B. President Kabila has reversed a spirit of lawlessness and the image of a government run by "kleptocracy". (...)
C.Kabila has brought some order to an economy that was completely out of control. During the hyper inflation of the nineties, money was being printed at an alarming rate and bypassing the banks to pay the military brass an those close to the dictator. When Kabila came to power, neither government workers, nor school teachers or medical workers had received any pay since 1990. In Kabila's first year there is finally an attempt to pay these faithful workers (...) Those who are receiving at least a meager salary note that the currency is more stable. Banks are once again open (..) Merchants can purchase supplies in Kinshasa, travel to the interior and return to Kinshasa to find the same items at the same price. This is a positive change which makes a lot of difference to the ordinary Congolese.(...)
D. Reversal of the neglect of the infrastructure. (..) The Zairian corrupt and pillaging mentality is a thing of the past. There is pride now in being Congolese. Self worth and human dignity is being restored.
E. New sense of Dignity.(...)
Conclusion. There are elements that seek to highlight the worst in order to destabilize and take advantage of the situation for personal of tribal gain. Contrary to the disheartening reports by foreign press concerning the anniversary of the change in government, many of the Congolese were celebrating the changes.(...) A diverse nation of many languages is in the process of healing as it rises out of the ruins. The downward uncontrolled spiral has been brought under a measure of control. The international community should look with awe and respect to the accomplishments already set in place, and seek means to assist with the enormous challenge which still lies before President Kabila and his government."

No African summit

The summit of African leaders, planned by the Congolese government for May 12 - 16 to discuss the insecurity in the Great Lakes region, has not taken place.According to the government this has to do with the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are in armed struggle about some border regions. Both countries were involved in the preparation of the conference. UNDP-representative Gustave Speth, who had come to Kinshasa to attend the summit, made an appeal to the international community to support solving the social and economic problems in the Great Lakes region.

Windhoek

From May 18 to 20 president Kabila attended a meeting of the SADC (Soutern Africa Development Community) in Windhoek, Namibia. He talked with international investors and with popsinger Michael Jackson, who was present at the conference as an animator. The popsinger thinks to found a fund for establishing a relief center for street children in Kinshasa.
The SADC summit was organized together with the World Economic Forum, an Europe based organisation that promotes the free market principles. Reportedly Kabila 's speech in Windhoek made a positive impression. He pointed out that his critics hardly have an eye for the deplorable situation in which the government encountered the country, and that few people realize what can be reached in so short a time. Capital and national savings were quasi non- existent, the social and fysical infrastructure were practicaly destroyed, the production capacity in mining and industry had seriously shrinken and the debt burden of $14 billion was very high. The population lacked the most fundamental human rights, as food, running water, health care and education. After discussing the improvements introduced up to now, as controlling inflation and greater security, he ended his speech with an appeal to the international community to do its best for the reconstruction of Congo.

Finances

The Minister of Finances, Tala Ngai, reported to ACP on May 25 about the financial situation: Expectations are that the inflation will be 12,5 % in 1998, against thousands of percents in 1996. Exchange rate is descended to 135 000 NZ = 1 dollar, against 180 000 NZ previously. The country now has one monetary zone, while there were several zones before. The tax system is developed a/o by reducing the many local taxes (312 in the past, now 69), introducing advance levy on profits and issueing stamp duty to avoid tax fraude. Bank sector is able again to do financial transactions. This adjustment of the national finance will result in the introduction on June 30 of the new valuta: the Congolese franc.

Institution of Parliament

President Kabila decrees the assignment of a Parliament/constitutional assemblee to the organs of State. This parliament has a double task: to study the draft constitution, and to controle the government during the transition period. The parliament will consist of 300 persons, who should meet 6 conditions:
- having the Congolese nationality,
- at least 25 years old,
- being of irreproachable behaviour,
- not being engaged in murder or economical crime since independance,
- not being a notorious dignatary of the past regime,
- having a sufficient political formation.
Congolese in the country as well as abroad can apply respectively via the province governors and diplomatic services. Their dossiers have to be sent to the president of the Constitutional Commission before June 12.

International

In a press release of May 22 the Minister of Economy and Petrol, Victor Mpoyo, showed indignity about statements of president Museveni, who allegedly has said that Kabila is not able to bring peace in his country. Problably he referred to the situation in Kivu.

Italy has offered its support to Congo in different ways: First Italy has created a fund for young Congolese who want to be trained in small industrial enterpreneurship, like soap works, shoemaker's, fishery and oil mill. Moreover, the Italian deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, Rino Serri, has declared at his visit in Kinshasa (May 19 - 22) that Italy wants to give $ 18 million for the reconstruction of Congo.

There are again problems with Belgian weapons, which are found in hotel Memling in Kinshasa. This hotel is a property of Belgian airline company Sabena. A number of weapons and munition was hidden behind a false ceiling in a hotel room. The technical director of Memling, Freddy Saverius,has been fired in connection with this matter.

The three prisoners

The 3 known prisoners, Olenghankoy, Masasu and Z'ahidi Ngoma, have been sentenced to respectively 15, 20 and 2 years prison for activities against the state security. Kabila has reprieved Z'ahidi. He has been released.

Properties of the Mobutu family

Le Soir reports on May 25 that the court has not adjudged the proceeds of the Fond'Roy palace, that belonged to the Mobutu family and been sold by them for BF 99 million to a Belgian business man, to the Congolese state. Nzanga Mobutu, a son of Mobutu, says in an interview that he considers right that he and his family can dispose of the money!

NCN-trip to Brussels

NCN editor mr Marek was present on May 26 at a press conference in Brussels organised by a group that calls itself: Conseil de la Republique Federale Democratique du Congo. It concerns a group of Congolese living in Europe, led by the retired Belgian colonel Willy Mallants. As expert they have recruted from Switserland mr Robert Stewart (recently fired as a member of the board of the mining corporation AMF). The group wants to take control of Congo and introduce free market in the country.

Kengo

On May 27 the Belgian newspaper De Standaard publishes a extensive interview with Mobutu's prime minister Kengo wa Dondo, who is living in Belgium nowadays (note: after having taken billions of dollars from the Zairean treasury). He accuses Kabila and his government of incompetance and expects himself to come back "in high echelons of the State".

Arrests

In the weekend of May 24 some high ranking Congolese government officials have been arrested or placed into custody by the Congolese security police. It concerns: mr Ghenda, minister of Information, mr Mbaya, minister of Plan, mr Mututolo, minister of Public enterprises, and mr Lakombe, minister of Energy, together with some other high officials: cabinet chief Yerodia Ndombasi and AFDL secretary Kalala Shambuyi. At this moment it is not yet completely clear what is the reason. Some newspapers suggest that corruption is at stake. Concerning minister Ghenda of Information, a reason may be the t.v. screening of a film, "Plus jamais þa", which shows AFDL soldiers, present at a massacre of Hutu during the civil war.

Amnesty report

Just before the anniversary of the Kabila government, May 15, Amnesty International published a new report about Congo, titled "A year of dashed hope". According to A.I. the year that Kabila is in power is characterized "a deliberate and calculated policy to kill, maim, torture and arbitrarily arrest of untold numbers of innocent civilians.." (note: We regret the method of Amnesty that gives evidence of a deliberate and calculate policy of smearing Kabila and his government.It turns out that Amnesty has published last year a great number of reports and press releases about Congo, more than about other countries and more than during Mobutu regime. We must conclude that Amnesty wants to contribute to the collapse of the Kabila government. Amnesty fails to consider the consequence of its policy for the Congolese people, which now is recovering after a long period of great oppression. In a special article we go more deeply into the Amnesty report.)

Jeune Afrique

On May 12 the weekly Jeune Afrique published a special about Congo of more than 40 pages of text and photographs. Several companies working in Congo are passed in review: SWANEPOEL (road construction), ONATRA (ports and waterways), SOCIR (oil refinery), MIBA (diamond), GECAMINES (cupper, cobalt, zinc), REGISEDO(waterworks), FORREST (construction), OFIDA (customs), ORGAMAN (coffy, cattle). All companies talk about the changes that occured since the Mobutu regime, and about their readiness to cooperate in the reconstruction of the country. Jeune Afrique also pays attention to the new tax system, monetary reform, agriculture, forestry, the sometimes deplorable state of the animals as a consequence of hunting by Hutu, and to culture and football.