Second Part 

CongoBoston: Well, we know the European Community, E.U. supports financially the political process in the Congo. But, reading some of its representants’ views, I think Mr. Louis Michel is giving little bit too much of his opinion about the results on the legislature texts, the elections process and even the future president to be in the DR Congo. What do you think about?

Prof. Kankwenda: Thank you for that remarkable observation, Franklin. I would say that the DR Congo has a particular history of continuous external interferences in its major political or even policy matters, at such a point that even political leaders are being “fabricated” outside. The firing of Patrice E. Lumumba as prime Minister, the Mobutu’s “coup d’etat” in 1965, Kabila’s accession to power, the actual 1+4 reigning coalition, the ongoing external trusteeship under the UN auspices, etc. DR Congo is under a political, economic and geo-strategic competition between the former French Equatorial Africa (North-West) and the two former British, but now Anglo-American zones of influence (East and South).

The former colonial power has neither the economic nor the political power to keep its hand on the DR Congo. It has to play either within the European Organization, or either it plays the American game in the competition. Which explains Mr. Michel’s stand show, playing the Euro/Belgian game with too much zeal, arrogance and even insulting Congolese people and the leadership (the latter, being just a group of predators and beggars), and he is fully ignoring the Congolese people. But Congolese people and their genuine elites are not blind. There is a strong resentment against him and those behind him. What means that one-day, one-day…

CongoBoston: Knowing the experience you have with the U.N. and gazing at the post-elections and the socio-economic challenges the Country will face, will the Congo benefit from development programmes like the UNDP helping Nigerian Women to find Employment or the UNDP programme enhancing fish production in Lagos. The fisheries in the Great Lakes, for example, are severely impecunious due to the war, and women have even lost their dignity. What can the UNDP do before unusual circumstances like those in Congo?

Prof. Kankwenda: UNDP cooperation programme with any country is not a loan. It is a grant and it is up to the Government of that country to decide what to achieve with UNDP resources when the cooperation programme is being designed. Everything depends on the political and development leadership of the said country. In DR Congo unfortunately, there is a lack of such a development leadership, able to define a development vision, strategy and programme, and keen on effective resource mobilization for the same sake. In such a situation, development partners, including UNDP may not have the appropriate guidance from the Government to assist in actual poverty alleviation for grass roots, rural and community-based development projects as those you are referring to, and I launched when I was UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria.

What I’m saying is that UNDP can do a lot to assist our people, but everything depends on Congolese leadership guidance and political determination to design and implement sound poverty alleviation, job creation and income generation programmes for the masses, both men and women. UNDP can also assist in mobilizing other resources from development partners if and if such a development leadership is in place, and gives the required direction for DRC development.

CongoBoston: What can you say about the freedom of the press and the observance of human rights in the Congo at this time, since, according to the news (See digital Congo 5-8-2003) you were, personally, attacked in Kinshasa, DR Congo soon as you got out of the airport on the way home?

Prof. Kankwenda: With what I have just said, you will understand that freedom of the press and human rights protections aren’t an area where our institutions can be praised. Please refer to numerous reports from international NGOs such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty international, etc, and from national Human rights organizations and the African Media Institute (AMI) in Kinshasa. 

A recently BBC-conducted investigation concludes the same way: the situation of freedom of press and human rights is very poor in the DR Congo. Journalists are being arrested, tortured or even assassinated. Some media have been shut down or sealed on Government or even the HAM’s decision!

Talking about my sad experience in the DR Congo, I was victim of an attack in capital-city of Kinshasa the very day I arrived in 2003. Was it an accidental or well-planned incident? Was it a politically motivated-event for some reason? Only Police intelligence service knows.

CongoBoston: We just had an interview (January 2006) with Mr. Joseph L. Afata of the UNDP, Kinshasa about the actions of the UNDP in the DR Congo. I came to understand that a lot will need to be done to rebuild the Congolese economy. Can you pinpoint, for us, some major socio-economical priorities to put the Congo back on its feet?

Prof. Kankwenda: Last July, I was invited to give a public lecture on a specific topic: “The Economic renaissance of Congo”. First of all, rebuilding the Congo economy doesn’t and shouldn’t mean reconstructing the same thing that was destroyed during the conflict and the political crisis. Rebuilding Congo cannot be done at sight, or within an old colonial frame.

There is a need for a new vision of where a new development leadership wants to lead the country for the interest of the population. Such a vision should take into account the ongoing and increasing globalization process, the centrality of DRC in the region, and of course the socio-economic objectives of pro-poor economic sustainable growth, a development socialization approach and an inclusive democratization of not only the political arena, but also of the social, economic and cultural spheres.

Congo is very rich: its natural resources and its population constitute the economic and social basis for rebuilding the economy of our country. But the poorness of our development leadership is a crucial problem. On the basis of such a vision, then a development or reconstruction strategy can be designed with clear sector priorities for those sectors that are growth-bearers and related ones, but addressing some cross-cutting issues such as sound economic governance, capacity building, a well as mastered insertion into globalization, national and regional integration, women and youth special issues. This will give the ground for the formulation of appropriate development and reconstruction programmes for Agriculture, Industry, Mining and other related Infrastructures, as well as for the social sector: health, education, shelter, job creation, and in a participatory approach.

There is a strong need to give people hope and confidence, and alleviate their daily existential anguish. Mobilizing such a popular potential and expectations requires sound development programmes in priority sectors and themes that have a large potential and impact on growth and poverty alleviation: agriculture, social and economic infrastructures (including energy), social development and job creation sectors. It doesn’t mean that other sectors such as industry and mining should be neglected, not at all, but rather that the first are priority for the reconstruction period and do not require too much in terms of financial resources.

CongoBoston: Professor, you have mentioned two documents from the Congolese Congress in America (CCA)… “The Washington Manifesto on DRC: the Congo crisis exit Plan” and the “Memorandum on Great Lakes Region: Opportunities and Challenges”. Can you briefly tell us about the CCA, its mission and what it takes to become a member?

Prof. Kankwenda: The Congolese Congress in America–CCA, is a non-profit Congolese organization, acting as a coordination interface and a platform for Congolese associations, communities, groups and individuals living in America (USA and Canada), and it is willing to work together toward the following mission: uniting Congolese’ efforts and actions in their political advocacy in America.

The said “unity of action” aims at achieving the following objectives: (i) contribute to building peace, security and national concord in DRC; (ii) defend democracy, democratic values and Human Rights in Congo; (iii) promote economic and social development in the country; (iv) promote a genuine political and development leadership; (v) train and inform Congolese people on their role and responsibility; and (vi) plead the just cause of Congolese people towards American (USA and Canada) institutions and partners, as well as towards international organizations based in USA and Canada.

Any Congolese association, group, or city-based community association (such as in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, etc.) or any individual can become member of the CCA since it is simply a Coordination platform, aimed at servicing Congolese in their common actions, according to the above-mentioned mission. Let me take this opportunity to invite you, CongoBoston members and other Congolese associations, communities, groups and individuals to join us in CCA, it is a coordinating platform for all of us. The CCA electronic mail address is congresdescongolais@yahoo.com The web-site is being built. There is already an electronic network at congres-des-congolais-amerique@yahoogroups.com

CongoBoston: Thank you Professor Justin Mbaya Kankwenda. I value your time and your willingness, delivering this insightful interview to a large audience; not only in Boston and the US, but also to all other Congolese in the Diaspora in different parts of the world.

Editor's Closing notes

We would like to extend your invitation to Congolese residents in US to unite efforts in order to advocate for their condition and the people in the D.R. Congo. Beyond my role of web-editor, with my academic knowledge in the area of public affairs, especially talking about advocacy, I will hope few readers to agree with me that one cannot advocate for a cause without being able to persuade the audience; one cannot persuade the audience without being informed; and finally, one cannot be an effective and informed activist without being a part of an advocating platform.

Overall, I convey onto all our readers, once again, to buy the book by Professor Justin M. Kankwenda, ”L’Économie politique de la prédation au Congo-Kinshasa, des origines à nos jours: 1885-2003”, which one may recommend or offer as a gift to friends, co-workers and classmates. At this point and time, I cannot stress enough about our responsibility to spread the word about the DR Congo to other people of the world, because most western media, with their “selective system”, had barred their audience from accessing some historical archives and current “authentic” tales on the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire)

Interview conducted by Franklin Katunda

Web Chief-Editor

Please send us an email via Info@congoboston.com to reach the Book’s author and for information on other US points of sale in Atlanta, Boston, New York, Brussels and Paris.

© Congoboston, February 2006