The Democratic Republic of Congo held it's second-ever open presidential election on Monday in Kinshasa and other voting centers to determine whether or not current president Joseph Kabila will remain in office.
Kabila has been president since the assasination of his father in 2006, and is widely criticized by the people of Congo for various accounts of corruption and harsh treatment of citizens by his personal military guard.
“I don’t see any changes in my life,” said Angel Nyamayoka, a local Kinshasa resident . “We have to vote for anyone but Kabila.”
Nyamayoka, like many in the area, must get by on $2 or less a day. Quite the feat considering she is a single parent to seven children. Many voters in the area including herself have reported intimidating behavior by Kabila's troops directed at opposition supporters, as well as the stuffing of ballot boxes and threats of a civil war they claim will result from Kabila being out-voted. Several have also reported having seen ballots that had already been marked in favor of Kabila.
A congo voter holds an election ballot burnt in protest.
Instances of voting-related violence have taken place, such as shootings at polling stations which have claimed the lives of several. Some stations have even been burnt down in known opposition-supporting areas.
Sadly, many feel that despite the "democratic election," the continued rule of Kabila is known and ineveitable. “We’ll take to the streets and burn some tires and the police will shoot at us and we’ll throw rocks, but that will probably be about it." said Dishateli Kinguza, a local vendor in Kinshasa.
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Voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been reporting several instances of intimidation and violence by current president Joseph Kabila’s personal military guard at voting centers across the country.
Several lives have already been lost in the name of these “democratic” elections. Attacks on voting areas include drive by shootings, military intimidation, and even the burning down of voting centers in known opposition-supporting areas.
Two people were even killed during a peaceful voting rally after police employed violent measures to disband the gathering under orders from the president.
Citizens remain hopeful, although several accounts of voting corruption have already been reported, including the stuffing of ballot boxes by members of Kabila’s guard as well several sightings of voting ballots which were pre-marked in favor of Kabila.
Mixed feelings are shared by many as to the fairness of the voting process and the perceived inevitability of another term under Kabila’s rule. Dishateli Kinguza, a local vendor, had this to say:
“We’ll take to the streets and burn some tires and the police will shoot at us and we’ll throw rocks, but that will probably be about it.”
<sidebar on history of Joseph Kabila reads:>
About Joseph Kabila:
-Born June 4, 1971
-Has served as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo since the assassination of his father in 2001.
-His official political party association is the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy.
-----------------ONE MINUTE TELEVISION SCRIPT------------------
<***ANCHOR ON SET***>
THIS MONDAY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND EVER COUNTRY – WIDE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. COORESPONDANT BLANK MCBLANK IS ON THE SCENE IN CONGO WHERE VIOLENCE HAS BEGUN TO BREAK OVER OVER SUPPOSED VOTING FRAUD. BLANK…
<***STAND-UP SHOT OF REPORTER MCBLANK ON LOCATION***>
YES (ANCHOR)… THE SITUATION IS BEGINNING TO GET HOSTILE HERE IN KINSHASA… ONE OF THE MAJOR VOTING CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.
<***REPORTER VO PROTEST GROUPS VIDEO, (TIMING 0.15 TO 0.21 OF CLIP)***>
VOTORS ARE GATHERING IN PROTEST OUTSIDE OF POLLING LOCATIONS IN RESPONSE TO ALLEDGED BALLOT BOX STUFFING BY CURRENT PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA’S PERSONAL MILITARY GUARDS.
<***STAND UP SHOT OF REPORTER MCBLANK ON LOCATION***>
ANGEL NYAMOYOKA… A CONGO NATIVE AND MOTHER TO SEVEN CHILDREN… SAYS SHE HAS TO PROVIDE FOR HER FAMILY ON AROUND $2 A DAY
<***SOUNDBITE ANGEL NYAMOYOKA***>
“I DON’T SEE ANY CHANGES IN MY LIFE… WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR ANYONE BUT KABILA.”
<***STAND UP SHOT OF REPORTER MCBLANK ON LOCATION***>
ALTHOUGH THE VOTING PERIOD HAS ENDED… CONGO RESIDENTS NOW FACE A GREWLING SEVERAL MONTHS OF ANTICIPATION AS BALLOTS ARE COUNTED AND A DECISION IS MADE.
<***ANCHOR BACK ON SET***>
<***SOC***>
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