The flags are out in Bunia. It's not bunting to celebrate today - 30th June Independence Day - but the political party flags which usher in the campaign leading up to Election Day (Mungu akitaka) on 30 July.

EISA, a website for 'Promoting Credible Elections and Democratic Governance in Africa', mentions 267 registered parties for this election. But only a few of those party flags are flying here in Bunia.

Carrying the torch for Mobutuism is a green flag with a circle embracing the flambeau of the ex-Zaire flag. This belongs to the Mouvement Populaire de la RÈvolution.

A rising sun on a white ground promises LibertÈ, Justice and EgalitÈ from the Union pour la DÈmocratie et la Renaissance du Congo.

UnitÈ, EgalitÈ and Progres are promised by the Union des Patriotes Congolais. Unfortunately, the patriots' leader, Thomas Lubanga, is sampling the hospitality of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Another party promises peace with the inclusion of a white dove on its flag.

The dove is between two diagonal red lines on a turquoise blue map of Congo echoing the new national flag. This is the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie Kisangani-Mouvement de Liberation led by Wamba di Wamba.

Does the bright yellow ant on a blue ground promise construction from le Mouvement pour la LibÈration du Congo? Jean Pierre Bemba who leads this party is one of the four vice-presidents. He paid a flying visit to Bunia a few weeks ago.

The current president, Joseph Kabila, heads the PPRD which may stand for Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Democratie or le DÈveloppement.

He is considered to be the main contender for the presidency. Maybe he was preparing for this possibility as he was recently officially married - by both protestant and catholic clergy in the capital.

And then there are the many scraps of green, blue and black plastic which flap in the wind. But they are nothing new and have nothing to do with the current election season. They are markers of the drinking parlours!

With so many parties putting forward candidates for election and so little explanation as to each party's manifesto, it's no wonder that people express difficulty in knowing how to vote. But itís a significant time in the history of the country. Parents are voting for the first time along with their first-time voter 18-year olds.

Nationwide there are 25,712,552 registered electors. Each one will have a vote for one of the 33 presidential candidates. This will be the preliminary round and a second round will take place later. The population will vote for 500 deputies to form the national assembly. Bunia falls in the territory of Irumu which warrants 5 deputies. There are 243,306 registered electors in Irumu.

At the same time the electorate will chose deputies for the provincial assemblies. As a result of the referendum, the boundaries of the previous 10 provinces were redrawn to give 25 provinces (+ the city of Kinshasa) making them more equitable in size. The 1,399,608 electors in Ituri province will elect 30 deputies.

So we wait to see how the period of electioneering will go. The international community has provided many dollars and military personnel to ensure that it takes place and takes place in a free and fair manner. While there is quite a strong voice resenting external interference, the students at ISP composed a song expressing their dependence on God.

Congo needs peace.

ourselves    

our nation

our leaders

We commit    

our country     

to you.

our soldiers

our politicians

Without you the election wonít take place.

"First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct." 1Ti 2:1-2

Blessings,

Bridget Howard