tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post7527588614730730742..comments2024-02-24T06:10:42.255-08:00Comments on Congo Siasa: Selling the state: Kinshasa loses up to $5,5 billion in assetsJason Stearnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11454449854081540397noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-31387679373919193882011-11-27T12:43:55.962-08:002011-11-27T12:43:55.962-08:00and Rich, you are so right about your predictions ...and Rich, you are so right about your predictions of Vital K. and the future of the political scene in DRC !!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-67823765708683453132011-11-27T12:38:29.017-08:002011-11-27T12:38:29.017-08:00Rich, coming from a congolese, you are so on the p...Rich, coming from a congolese, you are so on the point !!!! many of my congolese brothers don't seem to remember history about Etienne Tshisekedi who they call today the father of the nation which disturbs me a great deal !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-55229474073963676482011-11-27T00:36:43.799-08:002011-11-27T00:36:43.799-08:00Anonymous said:" just wish folks opened up mo...Anonymous said:" just wish folks opened up more about kabila. weird no one is mentioning him or discussing his legacy:<br /><br />Perhaps, we don't talk about Kabila, because unconsciously we agree that J. Kabila is an "historical accident" in DRC political "season of anomy".<br />Sometime fate plays funny tricks to people." <br /><br />Congolese people like to say: "chance eloko pamba" or like you say in english " luck is what lucky does" you cannot argue about it.<br />unfortunately, in this case the joke is on us congolese.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-65037110304268778252011-11-25T15:56:54.720-08:002011-11-25T15:56:54.720-08:00for those of us in the American left, this sounds ...for those of us in the American left, this sounds so much like the debates about Obama.<br /><br />"if he's so post racial, what's with the racist minister?" <br /><br />"Ok, so he was against the war in the campaign, but, as a Senator, he voted to continue funding it?"<br /><br />"wait! wait! he believed in change but then turned around and appointed former clinton staff?"<br /><br />...or my favorite<br /><br />"he spent debate after debate hammering Bush and Company for torture and rendition, but seems to be ok with knocking off american citizens? AND Guantanamo is still open!!!. This can't be 'change you can believe in'! This isn't fair!! He's just as corrupt as the others!! I want a my vote and Alan Grayson BACK!!!!!"<br /><br />now, ofcourse, i realize the stakes are much higher but it is good to see such vigorous debate over ET.<br /><br />just wish folks opened up more about kabila. <br /><br />weird noone is mentioning him or discussing his legacy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-29039609675964237872011-11-25T13:51:11.644-08:002011-11-25T13:51:11.644-08:00" As you can see, I am not convinced that Tsh..." As you can see, I am not convinced that Tshisekedi has a clear vision of what he wants or indeed where he wants to lead the DRC because his own carrier is studded by contradictions ". - I thought that the exchange on ET was graciously closed. It looks like no matter the answer you receive on the subject of ET, this man will always be in your eyes unconvincing. You are entitled to your opinion of course but please let it go,those of us who appreciate his fight for the rule of law in the DRC will not be persuaded by your arguments. These arguments are trivial, if indeed ET ‘s career was full of contradictions as you put it,these perceived contradictions did not stop millions of Congolese to believe in his fight for the rule of law in the DRC and to be inspired. You are saying that people are misrepresenting your points (statements, questions…). I am coming to the conclusion that either you are not putting your points across clearly or that the people, who read you and respond to your tendentious statements about ET, are not smart enough to understand you. You do not like ET, we have seen that in your postings about him and it is your right. In the fight for the emancipation of the people in the DRC, your perceived contradictions in ET’carreer and your bias will not change the fact that millions of Congolese believe in his fight, which is theirs too. People like Ya Tshishi, warts and allAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-3992239850516183862011-11-25T11:48:36.698-08:002011-11-25T11:48:36.698-08:00Question 2: Why have my comments against tshiseked...Question 2: Why have my comments against tshisekedi’s approach been perceived as ‘character assassination’ when tshisekedi himself referred to J Kabila as, quote, “that Rwandan”?<br /><br />Ref # “Your comments were perceived as “character assassination” because they match Wikipedia’s definition of the term: “an attempt to tarnish a person's reputation. It may involve exaggeration, misleading half-truths, or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person.” <br /><br />Again, this is another misrepresentation of my question. Here again I don’t know if this was done on purpose!<br /><br />It is interesting that you are expecting from me a standard that you simply fail to require from a person who is called to lead your country. I may be biased and all that you wish but is that a reason why tshisekedi should not behave in a statesperson? More on the statesperson in the following answer.<br /><br />Ref # “While Tshisekedi’s assertion, if true, that Kabila is a Rwandan is a mere allegation.”<br /><br />This is not a 'mere assertion', it is a solid FACT; you can follow it from the following link, minute 02:12.<br /> <br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSOPCgeFFjI<br /><br />Ref # “Tshisekedi should take legal responsibility for his allegation, if indeed it was made, while Kabila has a right to defend himself.”<br /><br />I agree with you and failing to do so after saying it so loudly and on the record is another major CONTRADICTION from a person we all know is a LAWYER. When I don’t call it CONTRADICTION I will call it HYPOCRISY because we know that udps has always used Congolese courts to settle some of its problems be it within the party or like recently against the CENI. <br /><br />I say this because we all know that a foreigner is not allowed to be candidate in Congolese presidential election. Why, tshisekedi is running against a person he referred to as Rwandan without taking legal responsibility? <br /><br />As you can see, I am not convinced tshisekedi has a clear vision of what he wants or indeed where he wants to lead the DRC because his own career is studded by big CONTRADICTIONS.<br /><br />@Mwana<br /><br />I just wanted to point to the fact that the Congolese quest for freedom and self-determination did not start with the letter by the 13 MPs. If for you that letter is a good representation of tshisekedi’s philosophy that is good but I just wanted to say that, when we cite that letter it may also be good to acknowledge people like Joseph Ngalula Pandanjila, Anaclet Makanda Shambuyi and the other MPS… who were not only COWRITERS of that letter.<br /><br />RichRichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01301460106025447019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-78249929320025229372011-11-25T11:48:07.036-08:002011-11-25T11:48:07.036-08:00BRUNO -
I’m so sorry to revert to this topic but ...BRUNO -<br /><br />I’m so sorry to revert to this topic but I made a promise (I wish I did not…).<br /><br />Question 1: Why do you think tshisekedi should be allowed to deal with Rwanda in 2002 and not L D Kabila in 1996?<br /><br />Ref # “There is a serious problem of anachronism in your question that breaches the laws of formal logic (It’s as if you’re asking why did the Soviets test their first atomic bomb in 1949 and not the Americans in 1945).”<br /><br />I think your example is irrelevant and is a misrepresentation of my question. I don’t know if this was done intentionally or you simply failed to understand my question! I say this because when I ask the question, I am looking at tshisekedi’s OWN attitude or interpretation of the relevance of dealing with Rwandan and not a complaint, launched in retrospective, on behalf of L D Kabila so that he too is allowed access to the same privileges tshisekedi offered himself to deal with Rwanda in 2002. <br /><br />My point is, in 1996/1997 tshisekedi refused to join L D Kabila to oust a 32 years old dictatorial regime that completely destroyed the country; yet in 2002, because, L D Kabila was accompanied by Rwandan. However, in 2002 as you said, he allowed himself to deal with the same Rwanda to ‘safeguard the inter-Congolese dialogue. <br /><br />Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems to me you are presenting the ‘safe guarding of the inter-Congolese dialogue’ initiated by tshisekedi and his RCD allies as a highly important activity than ousting a 32 years old dictatorial regime as initiated by L D Kabila since the 1960s that reached its climax in 1996.<br /><br />It is this kind of CONTRADICTIONS (I refuse to call them INCONSISTENCIES because some of you will quickly dismiss them as being a ‘rhetorical’ …) in his own attitude that I am more concerned with than if he is allowed to deal with x, y, or z in a given context … <br /><br />Let’s also note that there are many examples showing contradictions but I simply used one.<br /><br />Continuing ...Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01301460106025447019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-56611635305856638302011-11-24T23:56:35.530-08:002011-11-24T23:56:35.530-08:00Rich-
Here are some resources- all in English unf...Rich-<br /><br />Here are some resources- all in English unfortunately- about student councils- a major institution in American society. <br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_council<br /><br />To be clear, the idea of student councils comes from the American educational philosopher John Dewey whom you may have heard of. Dewey was pretty instrumental in English-language schooling thought and pedagogy in English-speaking nations and also assisted the Chinese early in the 20th century in modernizing their schools as well.<br /><br />He wrote a well regarded philosophical tract on education and democracy called “Democracy and Education”. You can read it in full (in English) here: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Democracy_and_Education<br /><br />Within Africa, and outside South Africa, Kenya (and to a degree, Ghana)is the most advanced with student councils. Here’s a great article about their advance in that nation.<br /><br />http://allafrica.com/stories/201004090866.html<br /><br />And a report on these councils from one of its provincial governments (Central) which, of-course, are now called “county’s” after the new Constitutional change. <br /><br />http://www.kssha.or.ke/ksshareports/reportoncentralprovince.pdf<br /><br />There are ofcourse a VARIETY of ways to generate a whole new political class from Congolese youth- like perhaps a government funded Youth Corps that requires young people to spend a year or two assisting communities on various projects (build schools, clinics, other infrastructure, literacy, irrigation/farming, assisting older people, orphanages, etc) that develops their leadership ability in a democratic manner with perhaps an incentive of free university schooling when they complete it- but these should pique your creativity. <br /><br />Cubans, Israeli’s, and Germans do a great job with youth leader programs as well so you may want to check out some of their programs. <br /><br />Highly recommend Dewey’s treatise, however. Next to the works of philosopher and playwright Jean Genet, he’s among my favorites given his ideas have transformed education for democratic societies in much of the world. <br /><br />MelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-88040581942111675322011-11-24T13:49:06.781-08:002011-11-24T13:49:06.781-08:00personally, if things don't go well, I think y...personally, if things don't go well, I think young Congolese, like their counterparts throughout the world and most clearly in north africa, should simply revolt.<br /><br />in my opinion, that would be the best form of taking history into their own hands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-77925647203064771042011-11-24T12:10:45.102-08:002011-11-24T12:10:45.102-08:00wow, benjamin! you make us all proud. and i agre...wow, benjamin! you make us all proud. and i agree with mel here. i am really so thankful for all the groups out there encouraging american college students to take more and lasting interest in africa. ofcourse it needs to be "better advocacy" but, like mel, i just feel that is tangential to simply GETTING young people involved. i have faith that young people, so naturally curious about the world and more open-minded than adults, will go "deeper" with time.<br /><br />while a student at u of chicago, i studied at the university of ibadan in nigeria (i tried ukin...funding just didn't come through) and, to this very day, it was the best experience of my life- well, that and traveling the full length of the congo river 3 years ago. <br /><br />best of luck in your travels to lum!!! you will love this city in the heart of the savannah. there is MUCH to do in the city and, yes, americans have long had a methodist presence there and a jewish one as well. (i'm a jew). i highly recommend a trip to upemba national park as well. the park is doing better these days and i can honestly say, having been to most of the great game parks, that it is the best. the city is very safe given the mining presence and highly cosmopolitan. it is also fairly special for me because it is there that i met my wife who is luba and congolese- so perhaps i am partial!<br /><br />but do try to make it out there with the congolese friends you will make- and you will make a lot given how friendly the congolese tend to be. <br /><br />everyone, once in their life, should feel the winds of the african savannah on their face.<br /><br />everyone.<br /><br />now rich, i'd suggest putting together a proposal or something and sending it to various foundations here in the states. if your program combines both education and encourage broader democracy among students you may likely be VERY successful in getting grants. its all the craze now and i am sure stearns can point you in the right direction and help write the project up. and you can even do it in french!<br /><br />good luck to you both and super thanks to you, Benjamin, for the shot of hope you provided to this at times challenging blog thread.<br /><br />joseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-42589905246397588392011-11-24T07:09:47.494-08:002011-11-24T07:09:47.494-08:00oké i have found it again, it is here now: http://...oké i have found it again, it is here now: http://ericjoyce.co.uk/2011/11/congo-fire-sale/ <br /><br />first it was here : http://ericjoycemp.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/further-congolese-asset-fire-sale/Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14850495235954766334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-62771736546832807592011-11-24T07:03:23.093-08:002011-11-24T07:03:23.093-08:00Dear Friends,
can any one explain why the Joyce m...Dear Friends,<br /><br />can any one explain why the Joyce man has changed his website and the summary and the 18 annexes, among which the minutes of the gecamines board of 8 january 2010, have disappeared? <br />Or have I mistaken myself and is this page simply displaced, so where is this page then?<br /><br />Why the document n° 14, is not available any more on mister Eric Joyce's website?<br /><br />TonyTonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14850495235954766334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-28797745766201093942011-11-24T05:47:43.470-08:002011-11-24T05:47:43.470-08:00To read,
...the country ends up with an elite wit...To read,<br /><br />...the country ends up with an elite with degrees not in economics, law, etc... but degrees in cheating, bribing etc...Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01301460106025447019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-62547712909210014642011-11-24T05:45:41.890-08:002011-11-24T05:45:41.890-08:00There are so many examples but I’d rather keep it ...There are so many examples but I’d rather keep it simple so that I don’t get carried away and confuse things. This is just to show that people could come out of University with big or god degree but if they spent their entire time at the university bribing or cheating the system, the country ends up with degrees not in economics, law or whatever, but degrees in bribing, cheating etc… instead.<br /><br />Let me also say that I am not generalising there were cases of very good teachers and very good students who cannot be placed into the league I am presenting here.<br /><br />Now, my ideas and project is entirely related to what I have presented above, it involves working with students (at both secondary school and university levels) to help them make the most of the small things they can get from the educational system. In other way, the system can be as tough and unfair as it wants but they can at least have an opportunity to broaden their areas of research by accessing almost for free academic resources and interact with other academics and when needed have feedback on their writings. This can be done in various ways, through giving access to the internet for instance or providing academic journals for reference etc…<br /><br />Teaching at secondary school or even primary school is the other area since this can be an opportunity to not only serve as a role model but also to empower the younger generation by giving them adequate academic skills…<br /><br />I highly COMMEND your plans for Lubumbashi and I think there is nothing better than seeing the light in someone’s face when a penny drops and they discover they’ve learned something new… I am a Methodist, I grew up in house located only a few yards away from a United Methodist church Bible College, Lubumbashi is home to me and, I think you and me may have plenty to talk about! So, feel free to drop me a line on yalala2007@yahoo.fr (my intermediate email address) or speak to Jason so that he can put us in touch. .. I feel ABSOLUTELY privileged and glad to have read from you.<br /><br />RichRichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01301460106025447019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-27001430724792622362011-11-24T05:44:59.607-08:002011-11-24T05:44:59.607-08:00Benjamin -
Many thanks for your comments. I know ...Benjamin -<br /><br />Many thanks for your comments. I know I shouldn't be on this blog right now but I think I wouldn't be able to focus on any of my other pressing issues if I did not say something about it.<br /><br />I have heard about, 'Student Government' but never managed to find out more about it, so thanks a lot for giving me the opportunity to learn.<br /><br />Yes I would like to see this almost sacrificed generation of Congolese do better than that of my parents and one of the things I am focussing on is education and mentoring. Kids in my society are very motivated respectful and ready for a challenge to do better than past generations of Congolese.<br /><br />When I went to UNIKIN (The University of Kinshasa), this was right at a period when mobutu’s dictatorship regime was being seriously tested by internally and his agents were ever so repressive to quash any kind of anti-mobutu activity. However, each class was still able to have democratic elections for their CP (Chief of Promotion), his deputy and members of the comity the same was done at the faculty level. Candidate to being CP had to present a plan and defend it in a contradictory debate etc… they were some kind of political interferences but most of the time there was enough transparency and the elected chief of promotion was able to carry out his mandate in defending students interests to both the faculty and the University. This could go as far as assisting students outside the University (organising collects for cases of illness or death …). That said, we were confronted to a generation of professors whose idea of going to University things had to be unnecessarily tough for students. We had for instance, professors who would warn you that when they write the exam, the best of the professor’s teaching assistants would score between 50 and 60 out of 100, the best of students around 50 and the rest (average and not so good students could simply hold their eyes to cry when the results come out. So, despite the level of organisation and democracy amongst students things were not as easy as they should have been with the teaching staff. To be on the professor’s list you often had to buy a module outline (depending on the importance of the module to your degree, these syllabuses could cost as high as 50 US Dollars in a country where the average person live on less than 5 $ a month…<br /><br />Continuing...Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01301460106025447019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-5211417325528432792011-11-24T05:38:34.660-08:002011-11-24T05:38:34.660-08:00Frank -
Ref # "I wonder when Bemba is going ...Frank -<br /><br />Ref # "I wonder when Bemba is going to release his supporters to Etienne..."<br /><br />It has been confirmed, Thomas Luhaka (Secretary general of MLC) read out yesterday a letter from J P Bemba. The letter started by thanking three candidates for the presidential elections (E Tshisekedi; V Kamerhe and L Kengo) for vising him where he is, it went on to briefly state the merits of each of the three candidates and finally it explained that he asked candidates to unite behind a unique candidacy for the opposition but it is now almost 4 days before the elections and this has failed to materialised therefore, he asked his supporters to vote for a candidate whose program reflects their vision and will be able to bring abour a better Congo.<br /><br />So, the MLC is no backing any particular candidate. Some find that decision a bit selfish but I think it is a shame the opposition is still struggling to unite when it is the first one to save the country is going through its worst ever governance and that it is importance to bring about the alternative. If they were serious about their assessment, I am sure they should be able to put the country first and unite but that is not the case and I predicted this in some of my previous posts on this blog.<br /><br />I am still not convinced tshisekedi will do it, he'd run a LATE and very POOR campaign and that can backfire; but who knows how things will turn out?<br /><br />My predictions are, and these are not based on any SCIENCE or INTELLIGENCE, V Kamerhe will emerge from these elections as the KEY figure of the new Congolese opposition, he will take the place of both J P bemba and tshisekedi for the next legislature. Between J Kabila and etienne tshisekedi, one will for sure vanish from the Congolese political scene.<br /><br />RichRichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01301460106025447019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-76817851225578563292011-11-24T05:38:16.706-08:002011-11-24T05:38:16.706-08:00Excuse me Mwana Kin, I had not seen your message o...Excuse me Mwana Kin, I had not seen your message on the contract. Thank you very much for your patience and your information. I am learning things here.<br /><br /> <br /><br />It is not that for me Kabila and his crew are holly persons either. I am only critisizing guys in Europe or the States who ride in smooth Porsches and know how to avoid to pay their taxes and don't hesitate to claim excessive expenses, guys as De Gucht or this Joyce, and who can say wathever they want on Congo and the whole serious media shout as sheep "bad Kabila" “mafia”, “corruption” and so on.<br /><br />So we have learned that the assumption that the Congolese State has lost 2.63 billion dollars on the Kolwezi project is not correct.<br /><br />I do not know if the accusation of lack of transparancy is still standing, since apparently the contract is published.<br /><br />Third I understand that the Congolese State has taken a big risk in signing the contract. Your reference to that article 9.q.iii It is very possible that this is a sign of bad governance indeed. The other possibility is that the Congolese government has information that give them guarantees that outsiders do not know. Maybe they think that judges of other countries will take in account the real “rapports de forces” and see this conflict with FQ as a “combat d’arrière garde”. We will only know this once the judge in Paris or where ever has spoken his last word.<br /><br />Until then this contract is still much better then the contract with First Quantum, isn't it?.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14850495235954766334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-6210496284245247152011-11-23T23:22:38.034-08:002011-11-23T23:22:38.034-08:00yes. please. more voices from women.yes. please. more voices from women.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-62889660533664065592011-11-23T21:09:19.553-08:002011-11-23T21:09:19.553-08:00@ J walker,
to get a sense of perspective on this...@ J walker,<br /><br />to get a sense of perspective on this topic, I am putting some links to material that will help anyone interested in DRC mining contracts to understand this issue better.<br /><br />UN Report<br /><br />http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533/egroup.shtml<br /><br /><br />Links below are about governance and mining contracts<br /><br />www.ipisresearch.be/download.php?id=127<br /><br />www.diakonia.se/Documents/.../20080219_Risky_Business.pdf<br /><br /> <br /><br />Mwana kinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-36084393289939348032011-11-23T12:18:47.165-08:002011-11-23T12:18:47.165-08:00Tony/Mwana/Jose-
Let’s not forget this deal eithe...Tony/Mwana/Jose-<br /><br />Let’s not forget this deal either everyone.<br /><br />http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/23/anvil-minmetals-idUSL4E7MN26Y20111123<br /><br />So, to help folks unpack this:<br /><br />Chinese company MinMetals Resources in trying to take over Anvil Mining for $1.3 billion. Anvil has a lease on two Congo projects, Kinsevere (95% owned by Anvil) and Mutoshi (70% owned by Anvil). Anvil, in turn, partly owned by trader Transfigura- to the tune of 39%. These two projects are, IN TURN YET AGAIN, leased by Gecamines.<br /><br />phew!<br /><br />Now, Transfigura is saying that a deal cannot go through until it makes a “deal” with Gecamines. Gecamines is claiming the MinMetals transaction gives it the right to re-access- code for renegotiate and kickbacks- the lease before the deal completes. Anvil is saying it does not have this right and, ofcourse, all of this compounded by what will likely be a truly volatile election in the Congo. <br /><br />I’m not going to comment on the counter and counter charges here but it seems to me that the multiple layers of ownership structures allowed by Congolese mining laws not only encourages graft but is so opaque that it renders it very hard for the woman on the street to gain insight into the workings of resource concessions so as to hold Congolese authorities accountable.<br /><br />In my mind, THAT is the problem here and this has got to be changed. Its almost like if I start a company to build houses in Los Angeles, and then got a permit to do the same in Goma, and then create a company in the Congo that “owns” the permit and has investors with my company and the Congolese state and Kivu province, and then create ANOTHER entity that actually builds the houses, AND THEN sell that entity to a Brazilian or Angola real estate investor. <br /><br />While this may be standard practice in the developed West, in the context of the Congo it is TOO CONVOLUTED and is one reason investors are frightened of investing in the Congo and, perhaps, prefer supporting rebellions so as to avoid all these efforts at self-protection to protect their investments and cheat the Congolese which, ofcourse, encourages Congolese officials to “review” them and demand kickbacks/bribes. <br /><br />This cycle of greed, corruption, and opacity has got to stop because it is literally killing people and imperiling the emergence of a strong state and democracy. <br /><br />Business law and registration has GOT to get clearer, simpler, more transparent, and avoid special purpose entities, in the Congo or greedy capitalists will engage, at worst, in supporting its instability, or, at best, bribery to invest. <br /><br />Neither of which is good for the Congo.<br /><br />Perhaps the road to a better state begins with Gecamines need to reemerge and recapitalize.<br /><br />J. WalkerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-53929582068154133542011-11-23T11:23:24.360-08:002011-11-23T11:23:24.360-08:00I wonder when Bemba is going to release his suppor...I wonder when Bemba is going to release his supporters to Etienne.<br /><br />That's the game changer and he's running out of time.<br /><br />Perhaps, after this shooting, it will come shortly.<br /><br />And if it comes, I really don't see a scenario where Kabila survives.<br /><br />All UDPS needs is 36% of the vote to win and if Bemba throws his support behind UDPS Kabila goes down.<br /><br />It's about to get real interesting in the Congo.<br /><br />FrankAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-8477719141540289112011-11-23T10:23:52.515-08:002011-11-23T10:23:52.515-08:00Yay Benjamin!
I gotta say, I am just so thrilled ...Yay Benjamin!<br /><br />I gotta say, I am just so thrilled that groups like Enough, Friends of Congo, STAND, ONE, and others are engaging our young people. And ofcourse, a President that inspires them in so many ways in key as well.<br /><br />Yes, more needs to be done on better policy and better advocacy but the FIRST STEP is getting people involved and it is a hard one. <br /><br />Kudos to you and good luck in your travels to the Congo. I first got involved as a student at the University of Florida (about 3 hours north of Tampa) fighting for divestment of the university's endowment of South African companies back in the early 80's to put pressure on the Nationalists and haven't looked back since.<br /><br />Keep rockin', Benjamin.<br /><br />MelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-66282325862719372442011-11-23T09:43:14.446-08:002011-11-23T09:43:14.446-08:00in my view, if folks like Enough and Global Witnes...in my view, if folks like Enough and Global Witness want to see an end to all the craziness in East Congo and investors want less volatile relations with local players than placing some pretty strict conditions on receiving aid/grants/loans etc has got to occur to strengthen the state. we need to link the two because development and a better business environment are related. as long as Kinshasa feels no responsibility to its citizens because so much of the government purse is funded by people who are not Congolese or contracts are opaque they will not be accountable to them, reform the security sector, etc. more transparency will always lead to better governance which has the nice effect of getting treasuries to be more professional, which could mean a better business environment, and the Congo can start going to private markets which means regaining its sovereignty and confidence as a nation.<br /><br />a win win for everyone i think.<br /><br />joseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-65847641601957802442011-11-23T09:42:50.411-08:002011-11-23T09:42:50.411-08:00@ Tony/Mwana
Interesting discussion. I do think...@ Tony/Mwana<br /><br />Interesting discussion. I do think it makes more sense, given history and all, to focus on the corrupter and not the reactor to the corruption- who, in the Congo’s case, could be its people who engage in it for lack of pay, benefits, poverty, etc. <br /><br />But that means, i think, two fronts. front one would need to be multinational executives. while every major world power has laws on the books to prevent its nationals from engaging in corruption, we all know that those laws are not enforced with any rigor nor are these acts reported on with any serious by these nation’s press. Ugandans are having a vigorous debate about oil corruption at the hands of ENi and Tullow but there hasn’t been a blip in local coverage in Italy and Ireland respectively. Sure, both countries have fiscal/economic issues but, in a sense, the corruption of african officials is tied to the corruption of bank and real estate officials that is causing the euro crisis to begin with. so, again, front one needs to be these executives and more due diligence from legal authorities in these nations.<br /><br />perhaps a law that requires foreign companies to report resource contracts to be made public and a requirement for the recipient countries to report on yearly audits on the contracts? I’m not sure. <br /><br />the second front is ofcourse the local corrupting government official. well, this is fraught with more difficulty. getting Africans to get serious on corruption has been nearly impossible. so, perhaps, if we require reporting from companies we require reporting on contracts from the legislative bodies of the country- not the executive office/branch. in doing so, we strengthen these institutions to fight corruption and gain better balance with executive and legislative branches of these nations- very important in a place like the Congo with its parallel government and weak institutions. Kabila’s big failure is his desire to consolidate his rule, not building the state. that’s understandable but short sighted. for something like this to have teeth, the reporting requirement needs to require consistency and sanctions. so, if the Congolese National Assembly doesn’t send ANNUAL reports by x dates, then X amount of aid isn’t sent. no questions asked, no grace period, no nothing- aid is cut. that puts the onus on the Assembly to report regularly and on time. the report, on the recipient country end, should be really simple to put together and should NAME the signing parties to any contracts. now, if there is any discrepancies between what the company reports and what the Assembly committee/working group reports than we likely have fraud. if authorities in the Congo do not begin legal proceedings in a workable time frame that THEY DECIDE all aid is cut for up to 2 years. again, no questions asked, no grace period, no appeals, no nothing. <br /><br />in america, I’d actually prefer all aid- from USAID- and all grants and loans (from IMF/Worldbank) to be channelled through, and managed by, the Millennium Challenge Corporation. kinshasa is very adroit at using the vast array of aid groups/institutions to its advantage. duplication is bad. let’s get all aid disbursed via one place to track it all and reduce bureaucracy. this would require a change in the law of the MCC to do all this but i believe it would be worth it.<br /><br />---more below------Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209670742820403516.post-25071608027309172032011-11-23T08:44:05.095-08:002011-11-23T08:44:05.095-08:00@Rich
Thanks for the debate about between you, Br...@Rich<br /><br />Thanks for the debate about between you, Bruno, Mwana, and Mel. I’m one of those folks who is new to politics in the DRC having come from the conflict mineral issue Bruno is speaking of. I know there is this concern we are all being misled on that issue but, since getting more involved on it, I have boned up on a good bit of the full bounty of Congolese history. This exchange between all of you has helped clarify ET’s role in history to a degree so I thank you all for that! I also clearly need to learn more. :)<br /><br />Anyway, I think we ALL can agree your efforts to encourage young people to get involved via institutions that encourage them to grow as leaders, love their country, try to solve its problems, and other things is not only commendable but very exciting. <br /><br />So, I guess my question is, what ideas do you have about this? <br /><br />It would be great to hear them! If this helps, in terms of generating ideas, a major institution that serves this role in America is the Student Government. While there are MANY institutions that develop leaders in America among its youth (like the Boy and Girl Scouts, Peace Corps, etc), its been acknowledged for some time that this key one is pretty critical. So, every school in America, particularly our “high schools”, or secondary schools, and our colleges and universities, has an elected body that represents students and their interests. They have their own constitution which can be subject to amendments, a legislature, and elected officers- like President, Vice President, etc. Each state in America also has a body that represents all the Student Government’s in that state and then there is a national federation as well. The bodies deliberate quite vigorously on matters- often very controversial matters that reflect changes in our society like allowing a Gay and Lesbian club to form on campus. It has been found that SG’s help socialize Americans young people to the functioning of their democracy, teach them about running campaigns, effective debating, and the art of compromise. They are laboratories and testing grounds for leadership and something like 95% of all our elected officials served in a high school SG when they were young. Right now, the SGA at my school are going to pressure the Administration to stop the attacks at an effort to unionize clerical, janitorial, and food service workers. It is getting pretty heated but I ran on this platform and have the backing of my peers. Wish me luck!<br /><br /> So, hopefully this gives you ideas! Also, if you already knew this about American political institutions my apologies. Clearly, what works in America may NOT work in the Congo but, ofcourse, human culture is nothing if we don't share ideas from each other right? <br /><br />It would be great to hear your ideas about the Congo’s youth! And, whatever you are doing, I wish you the best!!<br /><br />It is also my wish for peaceful, credible, and transparent elections for your country. I will be teaching English at Bethanie United Methodist Church’s schools in Lubumbashi, after I graduate next Spring for two full years. So, perhaps, maybe we can meet!<br /><br />All the best. <br /><br />Benjamin McDaniel<br />Vice President, University of Tampa Student Government<br />Vice Chair, University of Tampa College Democrats<br />President, Students for Obama, Florida<br />University of Tampa<br />Youth Minister, First United Methodist Church<br />Tampa, FloridaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com