The future of Zaire

Whether as the Belgian Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Zaire, the state carved out of central Africa by European imperialists in the late 19th century has been poorly served by its leaders, both foreign and indigenous.

For Belgium it was a sole colonial glory to be plundered for its minerals and plantations, for Washington and France it was an abstract piece in a geo-political jigsaw puzzle, and for Mobutu Sese Seko it was a prodigious cash cow he milked and sold off to finance his obscene lifestyle.

For the myriad of tribes and ethnic groups who live in its boundaries south of the Congo river the country has always been the same thing -- a land of woe.

Former Marxist rebel chief Laurent Kabila now takes his turn as leader with promises to turn around one of Africa's potentially richest countries. On his shoulders also rest the fortunes of much of Central and Eastern Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo as it is called again, remains as it was known in colonial days -- as the "trigger" to the heart of Africa.

Kabila's rise has inspired hope among Zaireans, not so much because of the man himself but simply because of the end to the utter corruption and brutality that marked Mobuto's rule. Kabila himself has much work to do.

Kabila and his officials have promised elections in around two years, preceded by an assembly, to be convened within two months, which will draft a new constitution for the country.

In the meantime, he says, the transitional government will be open to opposition politicians -- excluding those who supported Mobuto -- but on an individual basis, with no participation by Zaire's more than 450 political parties.

Uganda's Museveni, a main Kabila backer, has a ground plan for central Africa that would render unimportant the arbitrarily- drawn up borders of the region and in their place give prominence to economic blocs that would look east and south for trading opportunities.

There is much wisdom in such an approach. The scarred, looted lands left behind by more than a century of exploitation by foreigners and Mobuto are not going to be receptive to the seeds of a modern democracy. The people of Congo-Zaire must be given a say in how their country will be governed but an indigenous approach to forming a functioning representative government will be needed.

If true democracy is going to take root some form of economic revitalization must take place first.

The West and international organizations should rightly protest if Kabila's men or his successors return to the abuses of the Mobuto years. But the people of Congo-Zaire must also be allowed to find their own form of democracy without conditions being applied by outsiders.

-- The Nation, Bangkok