Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Fides Service)- In a message bearing the title “May our hope not be disappointed” the Catholic Bishops of the province of Lubumbashi, Katanga southern Congo, encourage the people and rally the national leaders to fulfil electoral promises. “After a sad time of war and suffering and political instability, our country has finally adopted democratic institutions. The time of hope opens before us. Actor and witness our people give the impression that they truly believe this, while not hiding a certain fear of being disappointed” the Bishops write.
Referring to the recent electoral process which led to the establishing of the Third Republic of Congo the Bishops write “with the elections our people showed they are capable of putting political and ethnic passions aside and therefore able to take an active part in building a rule of law”.
“If we rejoice at these signs of hope - the message continues - at the same time we realise with sadness that the enthusiasm fostered in our people by the elections and the installation of democratic institutions is today ever more ephemeral and fragile. The persistence of denigrated practices of the second republic, the difference between electoral promises and action as well as inertia in finding solutions to urgent problems lead us to believe that unless care is taken we may fall into the same traps as in the past and the future of democracy in our country will once again be in danger”.
With regard to the situation in their region, the Bishops highlight certain problems which must be faced immediately. On the level of security, given the presence of armed groups still active in Katanga (“in our towns and villages raids by the so-called security forces and non integrated armed elements are the order of the day”) the Bishops call on the “country’s leaders to assume their responsibility to guarantee security for the people on a national scale”.
Another fundamental point is economic development. Katanga is an important mining region “which has drawn a flow of foreign investments in recent times”. The message denounces unjust treatment given to local workers many of whom are forced to work far from home, badly paid, their dignity and rights are violated. The Bishops also denounce environmental damage caused by too intensive mining of local resources.
The Bishops conclude entrusting the future of the country and the province to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Our Lady of hope, may our people at last live in peace, democracy and development”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2007 righe 38 parole 441)
