Observations on a change of government

KINSHASA, ZAIRE

This past weekend (May 17-18) was very tense for all inhabitants of Kinshasa (the capital of Zaire). President Mobutu (the corrupt dictator who had ruled Zaire for the past 35 years) left Friday for an unknown destination. Following his departure, General Mahele, a person well liked by the Zairian population, was assassinated by the DSP (Mobutu's military). People who are highly placed in the army hierarchy say that General Mahele was probably killed the night he and two other generals went to Mobutu to tell him that they were not going to protect him any more. An army officer called me on Saturday morning to warn me not to go anywhere. He informed me that Mobutu had left instructions to eliminate five other generals and that the DSP was determined to damage infrastructures and attack people. It was assumed that, with Mahele gone, there was no other top army officer who would protect the Kinshasa population. However, the AFDL (the rebel army) arrived the same day, before the DSP were able to destroy the remaining infrastructures in Kinshasa.

Today (May 20) things were starting to go back to normal. Our driver Keji and I drove around town to get a feel for what had taken place and what damage was done during the weekend. Not much damage was done near our house, but many stores and pharmacies were looted in Delveaux, where we go shopping for our food. Several houses belonging to top army officers were looted along the Matadi road. We stopped at the DSP camp and found several thousand civilians watching the AFDL help the remaining soldiers leave the camp peacefully. We did not get inside the camp, but I am seeking a chance to see for myself the reality of the camp which was the centre of terrorism and support for Mobutu's dictatorship.

Mennonite Brethren

Stores in Kintambo, where the Zaire Mennonite Brethren church office is, were looted or burned by DSP soldiers on Saturday and Sunday. Our offices were not affected. The further we went from Kintambo, the less damage we observed. In some places we met groups of people marching and singing funeral songs to Mobutu. One of them said, "Mobutu the dictator, now you are selling sardines in Morocco." These groups were mainly made up of adolescents.

I stopped at our office in Kintambo and gathered as much information as I could. So far, there have been no reported deaths or damage among our Mennonite Brethren people. Their concern was for me because I live in an area with many politicians and army officers.

There was the worst gunfire we have ever heard this past Saturday. Four of our neighbours' houses were looted by the DSP. We could hear their doors and windows being destroyed, and the children and mothers screaming while the soldiers went on pillaging without pity. The soldiers stopped by our gate a couple of times, but each time they left to pillage another house next to ours. Later on, a guard from next door informed us that four soldiers had stopped to ask for information regarding us. They knew that missionaries lived in the house but wanted to know if we were still there. He informed them that we had left due to insecurity in Kinshasa. Without asking any more questions, they left. Many angels were watching over us. My prayer during the night was that God would confuse any soldier who might want to enter our house. Your prayers did more than you might ever know.

What is next?

It is hard to know what will happen next in terms of politics, economics and social changes. AFDL soldiers are now clearing the city. They have given a telephone number that people can call to inform them about any government military activities. So far, they have been very effective in catching thieves and looters. Those agreeing to return arms and stolen goods are forgiven; however, those resisting are shot or have their ears or arms cut off.

During my travel through town, we heard a gunshot a few metres from us where several hundred people had gathered. I sent Keji to check. A young man who had stolen some goods had been asked to return them but had refused. Just then, AFDL soldiers had arrived and asked the crowd what they should do with him. "Kill him" the crowd replied. The shots we had heard were in response to their request. Instead of killing him, the soldiers had shot him, breaking both legs and one arm. He was left bleeding, and no one was willing to help him for fear of getting the same treatment from the crowd. Likely, the Zaire Red Cross is doing an excellent job of collecting the bodies and the wounded from the streets. The majority are soldiers and thieves.

There are three to four houses near ours which are suspected to have guns and military supplies. Our neighbours, who have lived longer in these blocks, knew more about it and informed the AFDL soldiers. Some of them came by this afternoon to assess a potential assault on those houses. That might occur during the next few days.

While downtown, I stopped to see a young Indian whose parents own a restaurant but who are now in Toronto. I had seen him on Friday when we took my wife Linda and our daughters to Ngobila so they could cross the border. We have such a good relationship with the family that I felt obligated to check if anything had happened to him. While I was there, three AFDL soldiers came by to look for a drink (for free, of course). I suggested to the young man that he should give them whatever they wanted and should not try to put himself on the wrong side of any military, no matter what group they belonged to. I decided to purchase their drinks (Sprite) so I could talk to them. One of them was probably about 25, the other two no more than 15. The older one spoke French and Lingala well. One could barely speak either language. The third did not say a word in the 30 minutes I was with them. When I asked them about the DSP killings at Kenge, one said, "I have a hard time thinking about Kenge. I don't want to talk about it. . . . " He never finished his sentence. He seemed like he wanted to cry. As I was getting ready to leave, I told them that it was important for them to think about their lives in terms of Christian values; otherwise, all the heroic work they were doing would be for nothing. They thanked me for the time and the advice about the Christian life.

Prayer

Please join us in praising God for safety for our household and protection for our people. Linda and our two girls, Annie and Pakisa, left on the last boat for Congo, France and then the US.

Please pray for:

* Continued peace for the city and the country.

* Peaceful cohabitation between the different military factions and ethnic groups.

* Courage to witness in spite of the current situation. If less blood was shed in Kinshasa, it is because of prayers by God's children. Many here in Kinshasa were praying and singing as DSP soldiers were going around pillaging.

* Mobutu and his family. I am sure he and his family will soon start to feel what millions of Zairians have been feeling for the past 35 years. May it be a lesson for them and reason to repent as some of his soldiers are doing.

* That people's wishes will be taken into consideration as new President Kabila organizes a government and other social structures.

* Open road and air communication with the rest of our brothers and sisters in other areas of the country, which have been cut off for weeks and months.

Pakisa Tshimika, MB Missions/Services Secretary for Zaire/Angola

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