Africanews
The Banyamulenge people claim to be Zaireans meanwhile the government through its local authorities is determined to get rid of them from the country. They argue that the Banyamulenge are Rwandese and not nationals. |
Divide and rule in the name of your people is the best device that politicians in the Great Lakes Region have so far found. For Zaireans it works systematically. From 1993-94, it was Shaba province. A word went around rapidly from Mr. Kyungu wa Kumwanza, the governor of the province that all non-natives of Shaba must quit the province. He had in mind Kasai people. They were harassed, assaulted, killed and evicted from their homes. In North Kivu, Zaireans of Rwandan origin are the victims. The question is now who is the next "prey?" Banyamulenge tribe in South Kivu province? Mr Anzululuni Mbembe, the Speaker of the Zairean Transitional Parliament, native of South Kivu is working around the clock.
The deployment of local authorities and army commanders in South Kivu has created fear. Initially the Zairean government had been civil servants in areas far from their home to curb tribalism. Nevertheless, now the Transitional Parliament led by Mr. Anzuluni, has decided that all local and army leaders must be natives of South Kivu. Due to the communication problem between Zaire and the outside world, little is known about the trouble that Banyamulenge go through in south Kivu. The situation is deteriorating from day to day.
On 4 August, 1996, Pastor Jonathan and his wife were coming from Church and were attacked in broad daylight with bayonets by "unkown people." Thank God for the good samaritans who saved them. They sustained severe injuries and today they are nursing their wounds in a hospital. In Sange, about 40 Kilometres from Uvira, Mr Rudiguza was killed by Zairean soldiers.
"Make census of all plots and properties of Banyamulenge." These were words of "Commissaire de zones" (District Commissioner) of Uvira Zone, Mr Shweka Mutabazi, in a letter to the chief of urban and habitat services in Uvira. Furthermore, local authorities in Bukavu and Uvira issued similar statement that people from other tribes should not rent nor buy houses, cattle and other properties owned by Banyamulenge. Next, they stopped all construction projects undertaken by Banyamulenge. They are often arrested without any justifiable cause. Early June, one Munyamulenge was arrested in Bukavu simply because he had received a letter from a friend in Kigali. He had to pay US$ 700 for his release.
Last month, Mr Miller Ruhimbika, director of a local NGO "Groupe Milima" narrowly escaped arrest by local authorities in Uvira. The authorities wanted to arrest him because of letters of protest to international community "Carter Centre", against acts of injustice and harrasment done to Banyamulenge in South Kivu.
Banyamulenge in Bukavu, Uvira and other parts of South Kivu Province are "prisoners." Travelling in the region has become a crime for them. It has become very had for them to move freely from one place to another. Unlike their neighbours, Banyamulenge cannot cross to Rwanda or Burundi. Those who dare, do receive unhuman treatment such as confiscation of their identity cards, their pockets and belongings are ransacked.
Any valuable thing including clothes are taken from them. They are seperated from their families and cannot come back to Zaire. These abuses are also done to them at every road traffic check point in the region.
Among many Banyamulenge people who have been expelled, is Mr Dugu wa Mulenge a former member of the Regional Assembly of South Kivu. Banyamulenge community in Kinshasa wrote a letter of protest to Zairean Primer Minister Kengo wa Dondo. According to the letter, Mr. Dugu was escorted by Zairean soldiers from his home in Bukavu to the border with Burundi. It is said that Mr Dugu had gone to visit a sick person in Bujumbura and he was intercepted on his return. Today he is living in exile in a neighbouring country.
The other outrageous and shameful incident on Banyamulenge is about secondary school students. From July 8 to 11, Zaire was holding Secondary School National Examination Known as "Examen d'Etat" Banyamulenge children came from Minembwe, Bijombo and Tulambo villages to Uvira town to sit for the examination. Because of fear of intimidation and harrasment, the students decided to come in a group. As they entered the town, local people started shouting at them and calling them "Inkotanyi" a name of the Rwandese Patriotic Army. The police hurried to the scene and started firing in the air to scare them.
For any psychologist and educationist, this was an act of demoralization and harrasment. The poor children needed, instead maximum security both physically and psychologically to sit their examinations.
After the barbaric action of killings and evictions carried out in Masisi and Rutshuru districts in eastern Zaire, those who managed to escape the carnage, are sheltered in refugee camps in Gisenyi, Nasho (Rwanda) and Gisoro (Uganda) in pitiful conditions. At the end of July, Zairean officials visited the area to discuss the security problem in the region. The governor of North Kivu, paid an official visit to his counterpart the prefect (governor) of Gisenyi. In their meeting they discussed security measures on their borders and the return of refugees of both sides. In the same week, two Zairean ministers visited Kigali with the same message.
While such diplomatic talks are held, little is being done on the spot to assure the Zairean refugees of their security. This is because, during the killing and evictions, there was no reaction and effort from the Zairean government. At the same time early July, 96 Mr. Rwakabuba and Mr. Mutiri both members of Parliament were barred from entering the House for parliamentary sessions in Kinshasa following claims that they are Rwandan origin and thus are not "nationals." This was announced on Zairean national radio and television.
With the crisis in neighbouring Burundi, the tension in Uvira and Bukavu towns repercussion on Banyamulenge are likely to go high. The influx of more refugees from Burundi to South Kivu may possibly create undesirable consequences on Banyamulenge and the region at large. The Zairean government still owes Zaireans in this region socio-political protection. Otherwise, who should Banyamulenge run to for security?
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