UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
10 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original in French
The main focus of today's press in Kinshasa is on the start of the new school term, marred by teachers' strike on Monday.
The main focus of today's press in Kinshasa is on the start of the new school term, marred by teachers' strike on Monday.
'The new school year: a false start' announces LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES in its leading story. 'While the pupils turned up in large numbers, the teachers stayed away,' responding 'to a strike call launched last week by the two main unions of teachers,' the paper notes. It quotes the striking teachers as warning that 'the strike will continue until the government decides' the matter. Elementary and secondary school teachers have been pushing for the 'implementation of the salary scales decided under the terms of Mbudi agreement, and this is in addition to the payment of salary arrears from last year,' recalls [the pro-presidential party PPRD] L'AVENIR. The paper explains that 'this agreement was reached in 2002, with the promise of decent salaries for civil servants and other government workers.' Therefore, 'the government needs to engage in a frank dialogue with school officials in a bid to resolve a crisis that could hurt not only the schoolchildren's interests, but above all those of parents who don't know really who to turn to,' recommends L'OBSERVATEUR, a paper close to the PPRD.
Also according to L'OBSERVATEUR, the electoral process is still going on in the DR Congo, despite the fact that 'the launch of voter registration operations has been postponed sine die in Equateur and Bandundu provinces.' This delay is due to 'logistic and security difficulties,' reports the paper, quoting the president of the Independent Electoral Commission.
'The Transitional Government has just sent to the National Assembly proposals its proposals for the distribution of constituencies, which the MPs and senators are expected to debate over in the coming days,' LE PHARE reports. According to the paper, the proposed distribution of constituencies promises to generate heated discussions. Indeed, as it now stands, the proposed distribution would assign 'too many MPs to some provinces and too few to others.' 'When objectively made, the distribution of constituencies provides a basis for a democratically formed parliament. But when ill thought, it generally leads to an electoral white-collar hold-up,' the paper writes. 'According to estimates published by the Ministry of the Interior, Bandundu province has 7.6 million inhabitants. This will give Bandundu more 76 MPs, a number higher than in any other province'Eastern Kasaï province, which actually has 7 million inhabitants, is given 6.4 million. To this province's capital, Mbuji-Mayi, which is known to have 3 million inhabitants, the Interior Ministry gives one-third of that figure, or 1.1 million,' LE PHARE writes.
The publication of these estimates ' in the absence of any recent census ' comes at a time when the UDPS 'calls for a major political adjustment, the only thing capable of leading to elections,' LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reports. The UDPS, 'Etienne Tshisekedi's party, once more, rejects the electoral process, at least as currently organised by the Independent Electoral Commission,' the paper explains.
'The row between PPRD and RCD' over the 'issues regarding Mutebusi, Nkunda and Uvira,' announces LE POTENTIEL. Among other things, the paper notes 'Some differences observed during the latest Council of Ministers meeting on current issues, including the threats launched by the dissident general Laurent Nkunda.' 'The verbal sparring has restarted,' the paper laments. It says, 'The DRC should not continue being held hostage to the logic of the components and entities. Indeed, it is this logic that is at the root of all these loud declarations, these arrogant and provocative behaviours likely to lead to crises,' it adds.
Also according to L'OBSERVATEUR, the electoral process is still going on in the DR Congo, despite the fact that 'the launch of voter registration operations has been postponed sine die in Equateur and Bandundu provinces.' This delay is due to 'logistic and security difficulties,' reports the paper, quoting the president of the Independent Electoral Commission.
'The Transitional Government has just sent to the National Assembly proposals its proposals for the distribution of constituencies, which the MPs and senators are expected to debate over in the coming days,' LE PHARE reports. According to the paper, the proposed distribution of constituencies promises to generate heated discussions. Indeed, as it now stands, the proposed distribution would assign 'too many MPs to some provinces and too few to others.' 'When objectively made, the distribution of constituencies provides a basis for a democratically formed parliament. But when ill thought, it generally leads to an electoral white-collar hold-up,' the paper writes. 'According to estimates published by the Ministry of the Interior, Bandundu province has 7.6 million inhabitants. This will give Bandundu more 76 MPs, a number higher than in any other province'Eastern Kasaï province, which actually has 7 million inhabitants, is given 6.4 million. To this province's capital, Mbuji-Mayi, which is known to have 3 million inhabitants, the Interior Ministry gives one-third of that figure, or 1.1 million,' LE PHARE writes.
The publication of these estimates ' in the absence of any recent census ' comes at a time when the UDPS 'calls for a major political adjustment, the only thing capable of leading to elections,' LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reports. The UDPS, 'Etienne Tshisekedi's party, once more, rejects the electoral process, at least as currently organised by the Independent Electoral Commission,' the paper explains.
'The row between PPRD and RCD' over the 'issues regarding Mutebusi, Nkunda and Uvira,' announces LE POTENTIEL. Among other things, the paper notes 'Some differences observed during the latest Council of Ministers meeting on current issues, including the threats launched by the dissident general Laurent Nkunda.' 'The verbal sparring has restarted,' the paper laments. It says, 'The DRC should not continue being held hostage to the logic of the components and entities. Indeed, it is this logic that is at the root of all these loud declarations, these arrogant and provocative behaviours likely to lead to crises,' it adds.
