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The campaign period is in full swing now.  Campaigning is limited to the month before the polls which are slated for July 30, but the banners and posters have mostly been blooming in the last week.  Hundreds of thin fabric banners are strung over the streets with red and blue painted slogans, candidate names and their precise location in the massive ballot.  These are the first significant elections in about 45 years here and they have everyone talking.  It’s easy to tell which candidates are members of the party that is currently in power.  They are the ones with billboards in brilliant, eye-catching color.  Those signs must be printed many hundreds of miles away and flown in to be pasted up.  I saw one in progress with only the top half of the president’s head showing and I was told that it would be a national disgrace to take a photo of him in that state.

For a country with lacking infrastructure, Congo has something like 40 television stations.  Keep in mind that the vast majority of the country lacks electricity and so only the 20% of the population that live in cities are able to watch.  Almost all of the stations are controlled by major political parties.  In an attempt to keep the elections fairer, the candidates are not allowed to use the television to make speeches during the campaign period.  But they are using the TV to run lengthy documentaries that play inspirational music and show them speaking to adoring throngs.  Supporters in suits are quoted hailing their candidate as the clear-cut choice for the future, the provider of peace and prosperity.  Some are even declaring their candidate the carbon copy of Christ.  Because the candidate is not speaking on his/her own behalf, these lengthy documentaries are not illegal.  And in a place where entertainment options are often lacking, I’ll admit they can be transfixing.

There are also special parades with hundreds of people wearing special shirts that were given to them by the candidate.  They chant and sing his/her praises in full voice.  I got stuck in the middle of a lengthy campaign parade while I was driving to the central market.  This parade was composed of vehicles and they were moving slowly.  I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers, but I also didn’t want to be construed as a political supporter so I passed them up very gingerly.  The road is very busy with bicycles carrying passengers and cargo, pedestrians, motorbike taxis, and a few cars.  It’s not wide or even, more like a dry rutted creek bed than a road in places.

With the elections now less than two weeks away we are coming into an interesting time.  I’m excited to watch a little bit of history.  I’m upset that the attacks in the Middle East are going to take much of the attention these elections would have gotten in the world press.  (It’s worth noting that it’s highly likely that both sides in the current Middle East conflict draw some significant resources from the Congo.)  Whether it’s in the news or not, it’s time to hope and pray for continued peace.  I’ve been reminding people for months now that elections themselves cannot bring peace.  God is the source of peace.  People of faith must also be people of peace.  If you are someone who prays, please pray for Congo especially in these next few months.

We went to a loan disbursal today and one very direct campaign banner caught my eye.  A candidate for the national assembly proclaims that he “will not steal” from the people.  That’s plain talk if I have ever heard it.  If he is elected, I hope he has the integrity to hold to his promise.

At the disbursal The people were very friendly and I had a good time mingling with them asking them about their families and their small businesses.  One woman told me that she sells chickens and eggs in the market.  She said that she wanted to come by the office from time to time to sell me some eggs and I said that would be nice.  She said that I should be ready to buy 15-20 eggs.  I told her that there is no way that I will be able to use all of those eggs.  She scoffed and said, “Just eat two or three a day!”  I politely declined the offer, telling her that if she came by I would buy five or six.  I do very well with most all of the available foods here but eggs can give me some mild to moderate troubles.  I’d be in a world of hurt if I was trying to consume a baker’s dozen.  It was great conversing with our clients.  Beyond the office work it puts me in touch with my reason for being here.