From our special correspondent in Kinshasa – If women are ubiquitous on election posters, the Democratic Republic of Congo is far from being a champion of women's rights on the African continent. During his term in office, President Félix Tshisekedi advocated for better representation of women. However, there is still a long way to go before these efforts become part of the country's reality.
President Félix Tshisekedi's election campaign clips, known as “Fatshi Concrete”, follow one after the other on the Congolese National Radio Television (RTNC). One of them highlights one of the measures taken during his term, which began in 2019: free births.
The measure, which has been in place since September 2023, will be gradually implemented in public hospitals and health centers. At the general hospital “Mama Yemo” (named after the mother of former President Mobutu), Julie gave birth to little Yumi in the maternity ward a few days ago.
Julie gave birth to a baby girl, her third child, and benefited from free healthcare for the first time. © David Gormezano, France 24
“This is my third child, he was born by cesarean section. For the first two I gave birth somewhere else and paid 40,000 Congolese francs [14 euros au taux actuel, NDLR]then 65,000 [22,60 euros, NDLR] second. I am happy with the free maternity care because if I had had to advance the money for the cesarean section this time, I would have died as this operation is expensive [un million de francs congolais, soit 340 euros, NDLR].”
Relieve the burden on women and hospitals
The painkillers she takes and the medication to treat her newborn's fever are still at her expense. But his relief is palpable: “If you didn’t pay before the free birth, you stayed in the hospital until you paid the bill.”
Still lying on her bed, Pierrette Mayele Moseka, Mother of a little winner, is full of praise for the presidential measure. “This is my sixth child. According to my husband, I was in agony when I arrived. We come from far away and the care was given immediately in the hospital. We will all vote for President Fatshi.”
Despite its dilapidated buildings and basic facilities, Mama Yemo Hospital has one of the best public maternity wards in Kinshasa. Free care for mothers and their babies is also a real relief for doctors.
The maternity ward of the Mama Yemo General Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. © David Gormezano, France 24
“This measure will allow beds to become available more quickly. After two to three days, women can go home if there are no complications. This makes our task easier,” said Olenga Manga, one of the two trainee doctors who is currently completing her training shift.
“Women often refused a cesarean section because they couldn’t pay. Free access reduced maternal mortality. Today we can intervene quickly. We no longer worry about whether a woman can pay. Child mortality has also fallen,” he adds, walking through the birthing room, which is waiting for new rooms in buildings that are still under construction.
Step-by-step implementation
Doctor Jean-Paul Divengi, director of the hospital, also welcomes Félix Tshisekedi's decision in his brand new office and adds diplomatically: “We must not wait for the President of the Republic to come and do the work for us.”
In fact, the director explains that free births don't just impact maternity wards. “This is a matter that affects other departments: functional rehabilitation, resuscitation, anesthesia, pediatric surgery and also the mortuary for unfortunate situations.”
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With free birth, it is now the Ministry of Health that transfers the amounts that it no longer collects from families to the account of its institution every month. “This is a significant step forward for women, but also for the general hospital. I've been at the top for three years and almost no invoice has been paid in full! In order for this program to develop, the technical partners and financial institutions must also follow suit,” he says between smiles and worried looks.
Doctor Jean-Paul Divengi, director of the “Mama Yemo” general hospital. © David Gormezano, France 24
It is difficult to say where is the ambitious presidential program that came into force just three months ago. Although several institutions in Kinshasa have implemented this system, there is little data available on the size of the continental country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has a population of almost 100 million.
For the lawyer Arlette Ottia, a member of the party of former President Joseph Kabila (2001-2019), it is “a political and populist measure”. Specifically, you will hardly come across women who give birth for free. These are not the politicians who actually talk about it.
A “feminist president”?
On the presidential palace side, Félix Tshisekedi's spokesman firmly rejects these allegations. Tina Salama, former journalist of Okapi Radio – an institution in the country – affirms that “the President of the Republic is an ardent defender of women's rights. Under his presidency, the country has never fared better since independence.”
Tina Salama, former journalist for Okapi Radio, spokesperson for President Félix Tshisekedi. © David Gormezano, France 24
“In 2019, there were 17% women in state administrations and public companies. In 2023 we have increased to 32%.” In the absence of the presidential candidate, Tina Salama, on a trip to all corners of the country (Katanga, Kivu, Kasaï…), explains: “This is the first time we have seen women in decision-making positions “We have a deputy chief of staff, a first speaker, who I am. And also a woman who heads the Central Bank of Congo, a minister of the environment and another who is minister of justice.”
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In the extensive gardens of the Palais de la Nation on the banks of the Congo, she adds that her boss is a “feminist president.” In this place where the “great men” of Congolese history from Patrice Lumumba to Laurent-Désiré Kabila marched, Tina Salama explains: “He believes in the emancipation, the empowerment of women, because he believes that this is really the case .” Key to the social development of our country. His life was strongly influenced by women: his mother [la femme d’Étienne Tshisekedi, un ancien Premier ministre de Mobutu, “éternel opposant” mort en 2017, NDLR], his wife and four daughters. He says it gives him great joy to be surrounded by all these women.
A long road to emancipation
At the other end of Kinshasa, in the premises of the Jema'h association, which campaigns for women's rights and their access to education and employment, a group of young girls are recording a podcast dedicated to the dangers of social networks.
No air conditioning in the studio, but with strength and conviction, the young panelists debate what harassment can target women or what harmful influence fashion influencers have on the networks.
For Tolsaint Vangu, 23, it's about “influencing the women who listen to me, who are ignorant, who don't know their rights and responsibilities, and telling them what they can do with their lives.” I want to influence them so that they can be independent.'
Ronie Kaniba, 29, during the recording of “À toi la parole, Podcast de Femmes” in Kinshasa. © David Gormezano, France 24
Ronie Kaniba, another participant in the podcast we recorded this morning, assures us that the situation of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo is improving. “There is a change. Today we are listened to and taken into account. We are committed to gender equality.”
“Significant progress,” confirms Marie-Joséphine Ntshaykolo, director of the Carter Center, which funded the creation of this recording studio. She certainly softens the situation by explaining that the situation of women throughout Congo varies from province to province, depending on whether we live in the city or in the countryside.
Candidate posters are omnipresent on the streets of Kinshasa. 29,096 women are running for the December 20 vote, which will allow them to elect national and regional representatives and local councilors at the same time as the future president. © David Gormezano, France 24
“The obstacles to the emancipation of women, especially in the context of public affairs, lie primarily at the cultural level. In Congo there is generally male dominance. Women are discriminated against based on customs and norms that are not favorable to him.” . But there are more and more female candidates at the legislative level. There are more women at the government level,” she says.
Women in politics
On the eve of the presidential election on December 20th, Ronie, who works as a nutritionist for a Unicef program, distances himself from politics. “We really avoid [d’aborder des sujets politiques] because it can be dangerous. But there are things we can do. For example, I am an observer [du scrutin]. You observe, you note and you report. You don’t have to disclose it because it can be dangerous.”
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As the election campaign reaches its home stretch, the elections on December 20th will name not only the President of the Republic but also national and provincial representatives and local councilors.
According to a report prepared by UN Women, 29,096 women are candidates for these positions (compared to 71,273 men). The number of elected officials is expected to be announced on December 31, when election results are announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni).
Despite the logistical difficulties in organizing the vote, the vote result will provide an indication of progress in the representation of women in Congo's public life.
If this election were to take place under disastrous conditions and its results were contested, as in 2018, it would be very bad news for women and for democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This report was prepared with the participation of Ivan Kasongo, a journalist based in Kinshasa.
