DR Congo : Tshisekedi Goes Big On Promises In Re-election Bid

By Jean d’Amour Mugabo

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched his re-election bid with a vow to consolidate his achievements and a set of massive targets to deliver a more united, prosperous and stronger country in the next five-year term.

The targets include the creation of 6.4 million jobs and building strong army and police forces.

Speaking at a fully packed Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa last Sunday, the incumbent president told the cheering crowd that he has delivered free basic education and successfully piloted the universal healthcare in Kinshasa, among other achievements, despite a baggage of constraints including the Covid19 pandemic, the disruptions caused by the Russo-Ukrainian war and his first two years in office being constrained by the power-sharing pact with the former president Joseph Kabila.

Tshisekedi faces 25 candidates in the presidential race and general elections slated for December 20 in which at least 43 million voters will take part. Analysts say Tshisekedi is the favourite against his challengers especially due to a one-round system of the DRC voting and his reforms in the ending term.

Major reforms include free basic education which opened the way to school for 4 million additional children, a macroeconomic programme which made it possible to consolidate official foreign exchange reserves currently valued at $5 billion while most analysts put the DRC’s cap at $2 billion.

His achievements also include restoration of the financial control and audit the function of public accounts to change the attitudes of public funds managers, increase in salaries of civil servants, the free maternity pilot project successfully implemented in Kinshasa to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, the local development program in the 145 territories with the construction of 7,208 classrooms, 788 health centres, and 145 administrative buildings, among others.

“We must continue the momentum. My ambition at the moment as I once again seek popular suffrage is to consolidate what we have started so well to rehabilitate the Congolese citizen in the fullness of their dignity and the feeling of national pride,” Tshisekedi said, adding “We will continue this effort. Now is the time to act, with more boldness, with more will. My long-term vision is that of a more united, stronger, more prosperous Congo. This is why I say to you, valiant Congolese people, “Let’s go”. With the second term that I am seeking, we will continue the action we started at the end of 2019 and mark the path towards this Congo of the future.”

During Tshisekedi term, DRC’s economy has been able to bounce back, registering higher economic growth rates than any other sub-Saharan Africa countries, despite the successive crises of great intensity that shook the world.

“Less affected by external debt, we were able to consolidate macroeconomic fundamentals. For the first time in decades, we have regained the capacity to launch major investment projects throughout the national territory, demonstrating our determination to make Congo a more united society,” Tshisekedi says.

Impressive targets set out

As he campaigns for his second term, President Tshisekedi has set out six major commitments to guarantee jobs and sufficient income to citizens, guarantee of access to basic public services, assurance of protection of the citizen and their property by the State, and guarantee of the ability to preserve the sovereignty of the Congolese State.

The six commitments are summarised as more jobs, greater purchasing power, increased safety for everyone, more diversified and competitive economy, better access to basic services, and more effective public services.

According to Tshisekedi manifesto 2023-2028, to create 6.4 million jobs in the next five years, Tshisekedi envisages to transform small informal production units into formal sector, generating 2.6 million jobs, creating 2.2 jobs linked to infrastructure development and city sanitation, and creating 1.6 million jobs in targeted sectors such as agriculture and services.

“I am committed to protecting the purchasing power of all citizens against the fluctuations in import prices and variations in the exchange rate, and reassuring them of a stable and dignified quality of life. Making the Democratic Republic of Congo a haven of peace and security is an absolute priority. I am committed to defending our territory and protecting our people from crime, armed banditry and terror,” reads part of the manifesto.

Tshisekedi, 60, came to power in 2018 when Joseph Kabila relinquished power after 18 years, following the international pressure.