Maman Ekofo
At her "Maboke" stand
On the flank of "Mwana Kin" sidewalk bar
Kinshasa, Matonge
Mobile Phone Photo: Alex Engwete
Pre-electoral violence has escalated so much countrywide that Rev Daniel Ngoy Mulunda, the electoral commission chairman, has expressly requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) send a team of observers in Kinshasa--no doubt to deter would-be culprits. A few days ago, in Bandundu Province, bodyguards of presidential candidate Vital Kamerhe slugged it out with anti-Kamerhe forces--with 4 dead among the latter. Kamerhe then accused MP Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, owner of the newspaper Le Soft and head of the Parti pour l'Action, of having a militia to prevent anti-Kabila presidential candidates to campaign in Bandundu Province. Kin-Kiey is now suing Kamerhe for libel.
On his part, presidential candidate Etienne Tshisekedi continues, unabated, his campaign of violence--urging his supporters to storm prisons to free those of his supporters already jailed for political violence. He repeated his call to violence at a rally in Kisangani on Friday, claiming later on Radio France Internationale that he wasn't calling for violence, but educating the Congolese people on democracy! Yesterday, UDPS militants attempted to storm the military prison of N'Dolo, mistakenly thinking that their comrades were being held there. Soldiers had to fire in the air to disperse the small frenzied crowd. The other day, UDPS militants burned a Chinese dump truck working on Boulevard Lumumba in Limete. The driver was lucky to escape with his life as these goons were bent on burning him alongside his truck. Things have degenerated so badly that on the grapevine Radio-Trottoir, "République Démocratique du Congo" has now been turned into "République Des Connards" (Republic of Shitheads)!
We often talk of this violence "theoretically," as we never put a face on its victims. Following a Radio-Trottoir lead, I was able to put a face on one of those victims of political violence. Her name is Maman Ekofo, a single mother who earns her living selling "maboke" (grilled fish) on display at her stand on the flank of the "nganda" (sidewalk bar) "Mwana Kin," which is a short distance from Stade Tata Raphael, where, decades ago, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman had their Rumble-in-the-Jungle bout.
On Sunday, October 30, UDPS had a kick-off of their campaign at Stade Tata Raphael, a major event MC'ed by Jacquemain Shabani, with all UDPS stalwarts and their allies present--including Félix Tshisekedi, Etienne's son, who is running for MP in Oriental Kasai.
At the close of the event, as UDPS members were spilling into the streets, they confronted a PPRD member on a motorcycle, then proceeded to burn the motorcycle and its rider! Passersby rescued the badly burned young man and whisked him to a nearby hospital. Now in a frenzy, UDPS stormed "Mwana Kin" bar where they saw some people wearing pro-Kabila t-shirts and beat them. They then attacked Maman Ekofo, beat her, stole her "maboke" and her money. Traumatized, Maman Ekofo passed out and was taken to a hospital where she lay, unconscious, till the wee hours of the next day. She couldn't stop crying as all her livelihood was gone.
"How much did they steal from you?," I asked her.
"About 200 dollars," she said.
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