Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service)- “At last after 9 years, yesterday 8 March, women were free to celebrate international Women’s Day in the streets” said Xaverian missionary Fr. Luigi Lo Stocco, director of Radio Maria Malia wa Amani in Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Congo. “They crossed the city in an endless parade several kilometres long. It was a lovely day in Bukavu and our mammas literally took command of the streets” Father Luigi told Fides.
“With their colours and cheers they brought a smile and hope to Congo, struggling to find its peace and its dignity once again” the missionary said. “The atmosphere was one of rejoicing, the years of the past forgotten, the women were determined to deliver their message. Independence Square could hardly hold at least 50,000 mothers from every part of the city and of different religions” the missionary said. “For the first time veiled Muslim women, about a thousand of them, stood out among the others”.
“Their songs gave the event a festive air while their slogans denouncing sexual violence were deeply moving. « Mama nakupenda sana » (Mamma I love you) the mothers sang” Father Luigi continued.
“Bukavu was always the centre of resistance against any sort of evil and is was made it a martyr city which will bear its deep and visible scars in its heart for a long time to come” the missionary recalled. Bukavu was the centre of a civil war 1998-2003.
March 8th is of special significance in Democratic Congo this year when there will be elections this vote should mean that the civil war is at last a thing of the past. “The elections are a landmark event for Congo”. Women in Congo were the main victims of the war. According to a recent report compiled by international human rights organisations in the civil war which started in east Congo in 1998 and ended in 2003 tens of thousands of women, girls and children were raped by groups of militia.
But March 8 was also an opportunity for Congo’s women to voice their needs. “The day was marked by a series of claims on the part of women teachers, mothers, girl students calling on the interim government not to forget women’s rights” the missionary said. Wishing all women in ‘our beloved city of Bukavu’ a happy women’s day, Fr. Luigi told them “rest assured that Radio Maria Malia wa Amani is on your side”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2005 righe 39 parole 519)
