By Fidele Lumeya
Why the Rev. Ngoy Mulunda Daniel is very determined to ensure that the elections be conducted in a credible manner is not only a question of leadership and his challenge is not political, instead it must be remembered, the dynamics between the Protestant and Catholic churches of Congo. The 2006 elections together with post-election activities were planned and successfully carried out by the Catholic Church of the Congo, under the leadership of Abbe Apollinaire Malu Malu, thus fulfilling national expectations.
Four years later, the forthcoming elections (Nov28, 2011) provide opportunity for the Protestant churches to demonstrate that they can perform to equally high standards. Such are dynamics informing Rev. Mulunda’s leadership and such the nature of the engagement of the Protestant churches.
For any political analyst or elections process expert there is no doubt that the President Kabila will be reelected. The opposition has been dysfunctional and divided since 2006 and as such, this will benefit the reelection of the President Kabila. There is no doubt that the Tshisekedi camp, which benefit from name recognition of Tshisekedi at national level, will control the parliament. Therefore, Kabila will be obliged to govern with the political opposition, a problematic eventuality. The Government of the Congo will face the same problems that are now faced by the US government where apolitical stalemate prevails. On the other hand, by forfeiting control over a majority in parliament, President Kabila will be prevented from exercising political power as Museveni of Uganda has done by effecting, essentially, a constitutional coup d’etat.