AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - While waiting for electoral process to resume local Catholic Church continues efforts to provide civic education for voters: one example in Kabinda diocese

Tuesday, 20 September 2005

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Kinshasa (Fides Service) - Promote awareness of citizens’ rights and prevent a repeat of serious violation of rights in the recent past. This is the goal of an electoral awareness campaign launched in Democratic Congo by the local Church and started in the central diocese of Kabinda. According to local Catholic news agency DIA during the civil war people in this area were subject to serious violation of rights on the part of military troops.
Also in Kabinda the local Church promoted an ecumenical and interreligious body CARTEC (Coordination of activity for a successful transition) to help people prepare to take part in the election and make them aware of their rights and duties. CARTEC members are of different religions and different walks of life.
Kabinda diocese has trained people to hold awareness building meetings in city and rural parishes.
The diocesan radio station Radio Veritas has a regular Friday 45 minute programme during which listeners can pose questions to the head of CARTEC Mgr. Joseph Muzungu.
CARTEC uses the local Kisonge language to reach as many people as possible, also with print material. CARTEC workers avail of diocesan vehicles for their mobility.
The next goal is to inform the people about the new electoral law as soon as it is approved. Elections in Congo planned for 30 June were postponed because of delay in preparing electoral lists. The postponment gave rise to serious disorder at the end of June (see Fides 30 June 2005).
Registration of voters started in July was successful in the capital Kinshasa but in the provinces it met with logistic and security difficulties: not enough registration kits or centres for registration, too few people employed in the operation and difficulty in transporting material to the interior where infrastructures are lacking. Electoral lists should be completed by the end of September and the first vote will be a referendum on the Cosstitution 25 November. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/9/2005 righe 36 parole 429)