By Mary Sathulu
Ever since 1986-2003 there as been serious war in DRC Congo. But life had be restored back after years of DRC shedding tears to so many lives that have been lost for a long time
1st March 2007 brought in Democracy to DRC which has been restored within few months now after the elections for Presidency, are along the line a brilliant and talented business man by the name of Moise Katumbi was elected has a governor of his province by the voice of the people who trust that Moise Katumbi can work hard in turning Congo mostly Katanga Province to life by giving it a good shape to the eyes of the people at large.
Moise Katumbi is famously known as a big timer business man who had made it in life. Who also settled in Zambia for sometime but who eventually left after the sadden death of his family member who was so close to him. So he relocated to Congo the rest is history etc…
8th May 2007 Australian Freelance Journalist caught up with the Governor of Katanga in Congo DRC and this is what the Governor had to say on how they plan to keep peace and develop Congo with the newly elected President who had brought in Democracy.
The Governor said Congo is slowly developing aftermath of democracy has brought so many things to life etc… the problem of electricity power has been the major thing at hand where by the whole province would be in black outs for so many years times weeks. But ever since he was brought in office that was the thing he worked on Congo doesn’t have blackout any more its history.
Looking at the time he has been in the office it’s barely two months and the people of Katanga Province had this to say…
Governor has made sure there is gender equality and most of all labour laws are take in consideration where salaries paid to workers are able to feed their families abuse of workers is not their by investors. Girls or rather women have the right to go to school than being forced in marriage they don’t want such laws are past already in the law of DRC has in the aims of the court. One would say proudly that change is on the way. Some people had this to say this about the Governor his a person who hears the cry of people and such it puts DRC at the faster rate for development to reach any other SADC country in no less than time.
Governor said that his province being the richest in minerals it put DRC at a faster rate in the sense that the minerals will build the country through revenue that it will bring in. And the issue which is at hand is the export of raw copper to other countries which the Governor said that they will be losing revenue on exporting raw copper a lot in that it would bring the country backwards. ….. now they will export copper as a finished product so that DRC doesn’t lose out.
Looking on the issue of putting systems in place on the area of employment, he said this is really a major problem which can’t be solved in a day but as months and years go on the system would have improved. We talk of teachers bring employed just after finishing their studies into schools has been it’s a big problem because we lack systems this goes to Nurses and Doctors he said in his term of office he will use it wisely by achieving this important system making sure the Ministry such as Education, Health and Local Government and Housing are carefully looked into by the end of his term, systems will be right, this is a promise by the Governor. Careful when making promises because people don’t forget easily they make sure you pay to your promises. He said people’s voice comes number one if they won’t be happy with his works the Governor will be willingly to step down and leave the office for another person.
MDG’s Millennium Development Goals DRC is off the track for so long because of war people run away and left their offices this was the case but now that there is democracy and I Moise Katumbi will make sure that Congo is back on track. And the fact that United Nations office are here already we just need human resources this is what the government is working on.
Because of war, so many Congolese crossed boarders but now we are calling them back to help build Congo and put it on the right track in terms of so many things not only MDG’s.
Congo has been on war for a long time and serious war for that matter. I personally feel the rebels who went to the bushes are animals not people because it hurts me to see so much blood being shed for a long time. Coming to your question how will we maintain or keep peace. I feel and think the almighty God has intervened in Congo and has government no one will allow rebels to go back to the bush. If parties don’t agree on certain issues no one should fight but iron and table the issue at hand by talking about it and making sure certain views are taken in account.
Being it that a country which has been in a serious war there is fear that anything can come up as you and I know time is a greater healer to everything. With democracy there is no war so the government has promised to maintain peace that’s why there where elections
Congo will eradicate poverty by putting in small grants to the communities has you know Congo is a big Country which is highly populated these grants will be given through government departments which will help people to do business and feed their families. These systems are already in place and some are getting these grants. E.g at my office their are elderly women/men who clean the streets of Lubumbashi so by doing, so some how we are eradicating poverty you know this can not be done in day but has years go by am sure would have reduced on the rates of poverty.
Education this is a sector where it’s very sensitive how we achieve the universal primary education because of war so many parents withdraw their children from the schools. A lot was damaged in terms of schools which even put University of Lubumbashi in jeopardy. Which is going under good make over or rather facelift so that people return to schools, get their education being a key to each and every child’s life.
Gender equality being one of the MDG’s goals my government has empowered a lot of women and the parliament has women MPs and women’s desk that talks about issues of women has being mothers of the country.
The issue of gender equality is very sensitive since me the reporter I happen to be women/lady moved around and talked with few women and this is what they had to say.
Women strongly feel there is no improvement on gender equality. Women are their in parliament but their mouths are closed because Congolese men think that a woman should be in the kitchen and produce children. So all these NGO’s opened are only headed by men. The other problem is that women don’t support each other by so doing it puts the Governor in a difficult situation to try to change this culture which is in women the animal of not supporting and understanding each other. But the Governor is trying heard to change. That’s what certain women had to say bout gender equality in “Congo.
I myself being a female Journalist I felt the impact on the issues of gender equality. I had a very bad experience that to some part I had to emphasis that even if am looked down on as a women we are equal in God’s eyes. The people mostly men had this bad feeling about me and being a women they just didn’t like me at all, again the other thing women are graded has sexually objects for them to get something they don’t want a strong women. That woman will be showed the door and they will make things difficult by all means. Women don’t know how to use their rights being that men are the one holding high position women are used has sexual objects and women don’t speak up for such abuse, I don’t know why. Because they have fear of their jobs or other reasons. I personally showed them I could be a woman but am strong like a man and by being strong I managed to finish my mission.
The Governor had this to say on the gender equality issue.
Governor is passionate about the African woman and he gives great respect to the women its; why his working on trying to change the mind set’s of men in Congo by not thanking of women being sexual objects. He said a woman will never forget her family e.g. A women would get a $5 from an account without asking her boss but by doing so she wont sleep instead think the all night on how to replace the $5 back in the end she will eventually return the money back. By doing so a women is developing the country forward. But a man will steal $20 today and he will start planning on how to steal $100 again by doing so men destroy the nation in the end he said women are good leaders and should be treated with equality towards work.
Myself as a Journalist experienced the painful treatment women who stand their grounds go through. I am sure this hasn’t been brought to the Governor if he knew some of his people he would have fired them. Yes the brilliant and talented Governor really will and has brought change to Congo it’s the people who will draw his progress backwards his really working hard.
As the saying goes a rich nation needs to be healthy. Governor had this to say looking at this deadly animal which is killing the young and the old this is AIDS he said, Congo has the lowest rate which can be 6% are HIV/AIDS positive but again since he is the Governor programmes are put in place to educate people on issues of being faithful to their wives and husbands. Always use protection during sex. And people should learn to control their sexual feelings. He encourages the peoples in Katanga to keep the rate of HIV/AIDS low and always go for VCT if one wants to marry.
Still on heath issues he had this to say about hospitals and clinics. He said each compound has a health center that is good a thing. His worry is the state these health centres are in horrible, where by his family can not go there. His government is working hard on improving these conditions. There is a medicine shortage in the health centres as for ARV’s they are easily found in these health centres. He said the thing that kills HIV/people is food because some don’t have money to buy food. As a Governor of Katanga I am working hard that every one who is sick is able to access drugs. The rebuilding of health centres is an on going programme until we reach a better state but this is done slowly in due time everything will be fine. So that if I am sick myself I can go to any of the health centres.
Health issue goes on as a saying! A nations health is a strong indictor of its’ prospect that’s why his Government is going to pump in money to improve the health centres because it’s a place where lives are restored.
As a Governor it’s a challenge to run a big province where everyone looks up to you and at my age its encouragement to other people. That’s if you are (Keen )enough to do something the sky is not a limit everybody can do it with well planning too.
Being a Governor for Katanga is a huge task because demands are high, and the province is highly populated it’s like you are running another country e.g I had to elect 12 Ministers for the province who will help with the provinces tasks and other demands
Elected has a Governor was not my wish it’s the Katanga’s peoples wish so enjoying I can’t really say I do because the Katanga people felt I should be a Governor . As you know I am not a politician I am a businessman. When the people elected me there was no choice but to save them and learn to start enjoying the works of a Governor in Katanga. If the people said there isn’t change, I would step down without complaining at all. Because it would be the peoples wish again and I should respect peoples views.
I want to leave a name as a Governance that I helped in rebuilding Congo to a peaceful country and improve health, education sector by doing so, my name will be on the walls for years that their was this Governor who brought in change.
In the next 3 years Congo will be a changed place also very peaceful that you can hear birds singing.
This has been the brilliant and talented man very understanding I personally say his just a wonderful person who can’t hurt anyone. His a kind person who understands each and every situation he finds himself in it and has a big heart his a national friend, father, and brother to all surrounding countries. Congo is blessed to have such a person. Has a Governor to bring the country forward. We can see light along the path of Congo and the man behind it is Moise Katumbi. It was a very good experience talking to you Governor.
You have changed my life too on how to respect people when they destroy you.
May God bless you.
CLOSING REMARKS
Moise Katumbi Champay is such a successful man who say’s there is no room for failure in one’s life.
Governor had this to say about himself. While we should seek to understand others, we should bear in mind that each person is a great mystery for us to approach with a deep sense of awe.
We should try not to reduce anyone anywhere to the set of countable historical data we have gathered about them.
Much time when you feel the pressure to describe someone in general categories you are most likely passing an unfair judgement on that person who may not fit the generalisation.
Whenever you can and this would eventually be always treat people as special unique individuals whose depth and breadth you cannot fathom.
There is always something great about everyone. Take the time and the interest to know those you do not like. You will discover that there is no barrier to you finally liking or even loving them.
As a leader, grow to deep sense of awe for each human being. Train yourself to honour and treat everyone you come across with utmost respect. Anybody who is likely to feel the effects of your position or office deserves your undivided attention. This is a matter for deliberate practice as well as spiritual disposition.
Have you ever felt what it means to be ignored by your boss or anyone elses with higher social status then yourself? Such an experience may not simply have hurt you. It may have also blunted your sense of personal worth. Just remember t not to ignore anybody who might be looking up to you for help or recognition. Others feel as hurt as you do when they are ignored. We should be attentive to everyone we meet.
People will seek to associate with you if they know that you will honour their story and really listen to it.
This is all I have to say thank you. Moise Katumbi Katanga Governor.
Isn’t he brilliant and talented?
