We Have to Face the World Bluntly – Will Democratic Republic Congo Lead Good Governance?

This is an interesting video.  i love that they pledge to speak bluntly.  This is the problem with most issues around the world, is that we are not speaking bluntly, speaking honestly over and above our own self interest but in service to humanity. of course the last part is my words.  I just see so many people speaking openly.  When we don’t we end up with imagined communities, an imagined world yet the real courage is to speak the truth without fear of persecution.  If all people do this we encourage visible dialogues and we no longer fear ideas but we embrace diversity.  The truth in reality needs no defence as it is true always.

i do not know the politics of Democratic Republic of the Congo but i do know that there has been bloodshed and corruption.  My hope is that this country reaches for a new way of being, that it reaches for good governance, honesty, transparency and peace.

My friend Jennifer Banza is the lady speaking in the video, she is a Rotary Peace Fellow that I studied with in Bangkok, Thailand.  I found her personally to be a very honest person.   She stood up for what she believed and had an incredible presence as a strong woman.  She is a journalist and has desired for her country peace and prosperity.

I love her words of encouraging real democracy where people have a real say in their country.  She said underdevelopment and poverty.  She said there is a lot to be done to erase poverty, to give all people the right to live a quality life.  The conflict and crisis in their country means that it hasn’t been achieved yet.  She provides optimism and hope that they are building a positive basis.  Words of hope are critical.  I love the mention of divine, indeed she is that.

People rise up because of intense violence and pain that just continues.  The rights of people are ignored in favour of special interests of those who desire power and greed.  This is why voices for peace and justice become more vocal, they have no choice but to make their voices heard.  They do it with incredible risk where there are not the usual frameworks of fairness such as courts, advocates, non government organisations, lawyers, human rights laws, signatories to UN conventions and a general social belief in democracy.  I am speaking of my own country, Australia.  most people take their freedoms for granted and yet many are afraid to speak up even here.  Yet if they did their lives would improve rapidly in this type of culture.  This country has corruption also, but it is constrained by laws and the culture.  Places like the Congo have difficulties as children grow up in war and violence, many do not know peace or democracy so to create change it is extremely challenging.  Those who stand up are incredibly courageous.  Jennifer is one of those people.

The panel member speaks of leaders should implement good governance includes 3 main key words:  Efficiency, Transparency and Accountability.

Here is first an overview from Human Rights Watch:

https://www.hrw.org/africa/democratic-republic-congo

Here is the discussion on good governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: