Residents of the diamond rich town of Mbuji-Mayi in the Kasai Oriental province of the Democratic Republic of Congo are a happy lot. Thanks to President Kabila’s visit in the town. Upon his departure after his five stay, the Governor announced five days tax free market and 3 days of free hospital services.

 This means that small traders in markets won’t pay the daily levy for five days and everyone in town can be treated in public hospitals free of charge. This early Christmas bonanza entered into effect last Friday. It’s common in the DRC for the President to be a little bit generous in hosts towns that he visits but a gesture of this magnitude has never been experienced before anywhere else.

Mbuji – Mayi is the native town of veteran opposition figure Etienne Tshisekedi and his political stronghold. It is also the capital of a province known to have produced the father of Congolese’s Independence, Patrice Lumumba. Resident’s of the Kasai are known to be unfriendly to Kabila’s regime. They blame the central government for not recognizing the freedom struggle of Etienne Tshisekedi.

In the running up of the 2006 general elections Etienne Tshisekedi had asked his party supporters not to register themselves as voter and not to participate to the Elections citing countless irregularities. Mbuji Mayi being Tshisekedi’s UDPS stronghold, many did not participate to the voting process therefore giving Kabila’s party to clinch the governorship is own home turf.

Of all the provinces in the DRC, the Kasai Oriental is the only one known to be very hostile to Joseph Kabila. His decision to hold inter-ministerial meeting in Mbuji – Mayi was seen by many as suicidal move but also an attempt by Kabila to test his popularity in the province a year before the 2011 municipal elections in the country.

With the uncertainty of counting on the Swahili speaking Kivu provinces, analysts think that this could be an attempt to forge new alliances ahead of the next polls because of the return of the veteran opposition politician in the race. Tshisekedi was currently in south Africa holding talks with the ANC has vowed to throw his hat in the arena during the next presidential polls.

HAPAMEDIA