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Towards a Theology of Peace-Building in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): the Contribution of Christian Women

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Towards a Theology of Peace-Building in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): the Contribution of Christian Women Towards a Theology of Peace-building in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): the Contribution of Christian Women ESTHER LUBUNGA KENGE SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR IN PHILOSOPHY IN GENGER AND RELIGION SCHOOL OF RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY AND CLASSICS UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU–NATAL PIETERMARITZBURG 2015 DECLARATION This thesis, unless specified in the text, is my own original work; I therefore declare that I have not submitted it to any other institution for examination. __________________________________________ 10th January2015 ESTHER LUBUNGA KENGE DATE As a candidate’s supervisor I hereby approve this thesis for submission __________________________________________ 6th January 2015 PROFESSOR ISABEL APAWO PHIRI DATE ii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis, To the memories of women and children who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of the ongoing conflicts and whose blood speaks loud enough to bring peace in the DRC To the memory of my late father Ngulu Kiama and my late mother Mbuilu Panzu who believed that study is the tool for women’s empowerment. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The achievement of this project is owed to God who sustained me to write this thesis. I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to many people who have in one way or another contributed to make this work possible. To my supervisor, Professor Isabel Apawo Phiri, for her guidance and for her special advice. I appreciate all the time she took reading my work despite her tight schedule. To Professor, Sarojini Nadar, Beverly Haddad, Professor Isabel Phiri and all the female Lecturers at the University of KwaZulu Natal, especially in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics for their encouragement. Their teachings and critical thinking inspired me to reflect on issues that oppress women and children and make a contribution toward peace-building by Christian women in the DRC. To Dr Fulata Moyo, for allowing me to be part of the Movers for Gender Justice and their involvement in struggles for peace, justice and equity worldwide; I say thank you. To all the lecturers in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, including the late Prof. Steve de Gruchy, Prof. Raymond S Kumalo and Prof. Gerald West, I express my appreciation for their contribution to my training and the realisation of this piece of work. I enjoyed doing theology in African context, as promoted by the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics which is one of the best institutions on the continent. I am grateful to the leadership of the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics and to the University of KwaZulu-Natal in general, for giving me the opportunity to participate in the exchange programme with the University of Oslo in Norway for one year. My experience there opened up my mind to issues that are faced by people in Europe and the relevance of Contextual Theology beyond the African continent. My gratitude goes to the administration of the university and to all my fellow students who contributed to my training. I am thankful to the ScholarLeaders for they supported me during my study for the first three years. I believe that without their support it could have been difficult for me to have completed my studies. May God continue to use them to support more women and men from disadvantaged nations. I am grateful to Bishop Zwelisha Shembe of the Free Methodist Church of Southern Africa and to members of the Ubunye church for spiritual support and warm fellowship. They have been my extended family all the time during my stay in South Africa. iv To my brothers and sisters, to my nephews and nieces, to Charlotte and Bernard Muhanzu, I say thank you very much for your encouragement and every type of support you provided me to make my studies successful. Finally, my sincere gratitude goes to my husband Lubunga W’Ehusha, for his tremendous love and support. v ABSTRACT This study is an attempt to define a theology of peace that can be a driving force behind the motivation of Christian women to be involved in the process of peace-building in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In fact the DRC has been for many years a theatre of conflicts and unprecedented violence against women and children that has affected the fabric of life in every sector. The study aims at answering the following research question: ‘What contribution can Christian women make to foster a theology of peace in order to build sustainable peace in the Kivu region of DRC?’ This study has used two major theories, biblical peace and feminist ecclesiology, which circumscribe the involvement of Christian women in building peace in the DRC. The study uses a qualitative empirical methodology to address the issue of peace-building in the DRC from a feminist perspective. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, contextual Bible study, written documents and personal observation and experience. A group of five local women’s fellowships, from the most influential denominations affiliated to the Eglise du Christ au Congo —ECC (National Council of Churches in the DRC), was selected for group discussion and bible study. Individual interviews were conducted with six leaders of women’s fellowships, eight pastors and three members of independent organizations. In addition, the President of the national office of La Fédération des Femmes Protestantes (FPP) and the President of the provincial office of the ECC-North Kivu shared their views on the situation of the conflict and their contribution towards the restoration of peace. The analysis of data has revealed that Christians could make a difference in addressing the situation of conflict in the DRC, mainly conflicts that involve local communities. However, the majority of the population claiming to be Christians do not display Christian ethics and values in handling conflicts because of tribal and ethnic ties, divisions among Christian denominations and weaknesses in the teaching of God’s principles of peace-building. The story of Abigail encouraged women to be courageous and bold in order to rise up to the challenge of restoring peace in a patriarchal society dominated by violence caused by male arrogance and intolerance. The contextual Bible study of the story of Abigail provided a number of Christian values that are vital for peace building. These include justice, forgiveness, humility, valuing life and avoiding bloodshed and self-avenging. This study argues that a theology of peace that cuts across all cultures and denominations should be rooted in the above Christian values. To foster such a theology of peace-building among women at the grassroots level, it was suggested to cast the above Christian values in a form of a creed or hymn that women could declare or sing regularly in their meetings as a commitment to live up to their faith and act upon it. By so doing Christian women can contribute to the process of peace-building in the DRC. vi ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATION AIC African Initiated Churches AFDL Alliance de forces Démocratiques de libération CMLC Communauté Méthodiste Libre au Congo CNDP Congrès national pour la défense du peuple DRC Democratic Republic of Congo ECC Eglise du Christ au Congo IDC Inter- Congolese Dialogue FAR Forces Armées Rwandaise FDLR Democratic Forces for liberation of Rwanda FECCLAHA Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa FFP Fédération des Femmes Protestantes FGM Female Genital Mutilation LRA Lord’s Resistance Army MCSA Methodist Church of Southern Africa MIB Mission d’Immigration des Banyarwanda MSF Médecins Sans Frontière NUPI Norwegian Institute of International Affairs RFP Rwanda Patriotic Front SAUSSC Southern African Universities Social Sciences Conference UNDW United Nations Decade for Women UNHCHR United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights WCC World Council of Churches vii MAP OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO viii MAP OF THE KIVU REGION ix LIST OF TABLES Table 5.1 Sampling, Participants 104 Table 5.2 Church Members Focus Groups 106 Table 5.3 Inventory of Sampling 112 Table 5.4 Data Collection Methods Applied 125 Table 5.5 Comparative processes of qualitative data analysis 127 x TABLE OF CONTENT DECLARATION ii DEDICATION iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv ABSTRACT vi ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS vii MAP OF THE DRC viii MAP OF THE KIVU REGION ix LIST OF TABLE x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCING THE STUDY 1 1.1. Introduction 1 1.2. Rationale Motivation 2 1.3. Background 3 1.3.1. The History of war in the DRC 3 1.3.2. Women experience of peace 5 1.4. Preliminary Literature Review 8 1.4.1. Literature on women and peace 8 1.4.2. Literature on peace in the African Great Lakes Region 9 1.4.3. Literature on peace and the church 11 1.5. Research Problems and Objectives 13 1.6. Theoretical Framework 14 1.6.1. Biblical peace 14 1.6.2. Feminist ecclesiology 15 xi 1.7. Research Design of Brief Research Methodology 16 1.7.1. Research design 16 1.7.2 Study location and population 16 1.7.3. Brief methodology 17 1.8. Conclusion and Outlines of the Study 18 1. CHAPTER TWO: CONFLICTS IN THE KIVU-REGION 20 2.1. Introduction 20 2.2. War and Political Unrest in the History of the DRC 20 2.2.1. Inherited legacy of colonialism 21 2.2.2. Incompetency of post-colonial government 25 2.2.2.1. Incompetency of the leadership after independence 25 2.2.2.2. The Rise of Mobutu Sese Seko’s dictatorship 29 2.3. Congolese War and its Settlement in the Eastern DRC 31 2.3.1. Spill over from Rwanda Burundi genocide 31 2.3.2. War and illegal enrichment 33 2.3.3.
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