Looking For New Direction
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo
– May 22, 1997 — On May 20, Laurent Kabila, the leader of the Alliance
of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaïre, arrived in
Kinshasa, the last stronghold of ousted President Mobutu to fall to Kabila’s
army. And apart from sporadic looting and some revenge killings – estimated
at 177 by the Red Cross – it has been a bloodless and peaceful take-over,
beyond anything the people had expected.
"It is hard to believe that this change has taken place without heavy
fighting between the Kabila army and the national one," said the Rev Nlandu
Mukoko Mpanzu, General Secretary of the Bible Society here in a communication
of the above date. "The month of April and the first half of May was a
time of tension and fear in Kinshasa. We did not know what would happen
to us. Thank you for your prayers; God has listened and has laid on us
his protecting hands; He has acted at his own time to allow such a smooth
change of power to take place."
Jubilation
According to David Orr, writing for the London Times, the soldiers of Kabila’s
army moved quickly to strategic locations and sealed off areas to prevent
looting. The former tension has largely been replaced with an atmosphere
of rejoicing at what many people interpret as liberation from Mobutu’s
rule. On Saturday, May 17, people lined the roadside wearing white head-bands
and dancing in jubilation: "We are liberated, vive Kabila!" they shouted.
Talking with some of Kabila’s troops it appeared they originated from Eastern
Zaïre, Rwanda, and Uganda; many had journeyed up to 1,000 miles on
foot to reach the capital, but were euphoric in their victory.
New government
Discipline has been a feature of the conquering army, but until a new government
is established there is a constant risk of instability moving into chaos.
Mr Kabila’s task of forming a new government was not an easy one, as international
pressure increased on him to move swiftly towards democracy. He has declared
himself in favour of a free-market economy and elections "within a reasonable
period", and wants to re-build democracy at village level. This multi-ethnic
country is looking for a broad representation in the new administration
and a quick move towards economic and social stability — otherwise the
white head-bands that saluted Kabila’s "liberating army" could soon be
replaced by shouts of criticism and unrest.
The Zaïrean economy is virtually at a standstill; the value of
the nation’s currency in doubt. "We have a continuing cash-flow problem,
which creates difficulties in setting the price for any commodity; also
it is difficult to travel outside Kinshasa at the moment," Mr Nlandu said.
Miracle of peace
Mr Nlandu and his staff are concerned to provide all the help they can
for the people through distribution of God’s message of peace: "We are
faced with huge challenges to provide people with God’s Word. We want to
keep this miracle of peace alive in people’s minds," he said.
"God has really protected the Bible Society: in all our depots in the
interior, during these past seven months, all the personnel, the advisory
committee members and their families have been kept safe; our infrastructure
and stocks have been protected, and nothing was lost.
"In Kinshasa, where we expected the worst, everything is fine, and we
are waiting for news from the last depot left to report in, Matadi (in
Bas Congo). Kabila’s troops were on their way there.
Recovery
"Although there have been some problems with re-establishing communications,
we can now make contact with our depots by cellular phone. Some depots
have stocks of Scriptures; other Scriptures are waiting to be delivered.
We thank God for the support in prayer we have received from the fellowship
around the world. We ask for continued prayer that our new-named country,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, will soon be on track for recovery."
Following the above report compiled partly from Mr Nlandu’s messages,
he was able to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo to attend UBS meetings
in England. He gave World Report an interview, the substance of which follows:
"Talking about the insecurity, this has occurred in Kinshasa largely
due to some of former President Mobutu’s soldiers fleeing with their guns
and using them to pillage and loot people’s houses. The attitude of Kabila’s
troops has been harsh and without compromise: they shoot anyone caught
in the act of looting.
Took power
Our present worries concern the rate of exchange, which from the first
day Kabila took power in Kinshasa fell from 180,000 nzs – new zaïres
– to the U.S. dollar, to about 70,000 nzs = $1. But the shops did not change
the value of their products, which meant that the new zaïres bought
less. However, the government nominated by Mr Kabila has begun to take
certain steps to check the rate of exchange; it is currently (first week
of June 1997) fixed at 120,000 nzs = $1.
New guidelines
The problem for retailers, such as ourselves, the Bible Society, is that
there is an imbalance now between the cost of an item received either from
local printers or from abroad and the selling price. Effectively sales
are slowing down as retailers wait for the economic situation to become
clearer and properly regulated. So products are available but the prices
are in doubt, and any goods that are imported or use imported materials
are being held pending new guidelines. People fear they will not be able
to replace imported materials if they sell their current stock at a much
lower rate.
Our hospitals are functioning, and the government has promised to pay
government employees, teachers,the military, the police, and administration
staff, and this will do a lot to end the fraud and dishonesty that has
arisen largely because people were not receiving any money to live on.
Bibles for manioc
Foreign companies are being encouraged to help rebuild the country’s infrastructure
in return for operating licences in the mining areas.
We are looking at a scheme of offering Bibles for manioc in the short
term, until such time that the rural people are paid and then can pay cash
for their Scriptures. We also want to develop our system of depots to be
more effective; but it is early days yet, and we need to visit each region
and each depot to establish what people need and what is available.
We are hoping to take advantage of the way the crisis has forced people
to turn to the Bible. People pray under pressure, and we want to be there
with the Scriptures when people most need them. Unfortunately we cannot
produce any Selections or Portions in the current economic climate.
Most useful
Our first steps will include getting the churches together and doing research
to establish what type of Scripture, what format, will be most useful at
this point. We have to be more open to church input. For example, we want
to see if we can produce Scriptures to coincide with church festivals.
Finally, one of our most important aims is to get the Bibles out that
are ready. Some of these are blocked and need clearing through customs.
We are awaiting Bibles in Bangala and Kinandi, which are revisions, a first
Bible in Mashi, and a revised New Testament in Uruund, and we want to have
these launched and in the hands of the people before the end of this year."
This page was last updated on Tuesday, 24th June
1997.