DRC: Hope and pessimism after the publication of the new government

« Hope » and « pessimism » are the two terms that sum up the divided opinions of the Congolese after the publication of the composition of the government on 12 April. Speaking to AFRIK.COM, some expect this government to improve their living conditions and the security situation in the East, while others remain pessimistic following the time remaining to the Tshisekedi regime and the appointment of former relatives of Joseph Kabila.

The opinions of the Congolese remain divided after the publication of the list of the new government. For some, this new team embodies hope in the face of the many challenges facing the country, while for others, the Lukonde government is a continuation of the former team led by Ilunga Ilunkamba. Micro-trottoir!
« Taking charge of state agents

For Stéphanie, 25 years old, she expects « the end of insecurity in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri » from this new government. For her part, Liliane, a law student at the Protestant University of Congo, « from the Lukonde government, we expect the modernisation of the civil service, the relaunch of agriculture and the care of all state employees ». These words are put into perspective by Albert, a street vendor, who sums up his expectations in « the appreciation of the national currency and the lowering of the US dollar rate ». According to the latest information from the Central Bank of Congo (BCC), one US dollar is currently exchanged at 2,000 Congolese francs.
« Everything is lost in advance

After the publication of the government, Sama Lukonde declared that « improving the living conditions of the Congolese » is one of the priorities of his team. Despite this statement by the Prime Minister, some Congolese are extremely pessimistic. For Alimasi, 30, « everything is lost in advance because of the high number of members of the government ». According to this young entrepreneur based in Lubumbashi, in the south-east of the country, « this high number is an additional burden on the economy, which is suffering from embezzlement of public funds and corruption in the DRC.

It should be noted that before the publication of the new government, sources close to the regime in place spoke of reducing the number of ministers to 45. For his part, Jean-Claude, believes that the problem is not the number but rather the background of the members and the time left to the regime in place. This young student in Economics at the University of Bukavu relies on the Constitution of the country which provides for the organization of general elections by 2023. « Time is limited to hope for a miracle from the new team. Some ministers participated in the governance of the country during the regime of Joseph Kabila, while others integrate the government with the objective of preparing for the elections of 2023, » he said.