Church focuses on pre-election civic education

Mutombo wa Maloba Elizabeth (center in blue dress), vice president of the Tanganyika Conference United Women, conducts a focus group workshop during a July 2023 training for civic education leaders. With the country's elections approaching, The United Methodist Church is working to strengthen peace and cohabitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by training citizens in civic rights and duties. Photo by Betty Kazadi Musau, UM News.
Mutombo wa Maloba Elizabeth (center in blue dress), vice president of the Tanganyika Conference United Women, conducts a focus group workshop during a July 2023 training for civic education leaders. With the country's elections approaching, The United Methodist Church is working to strengthen peace and cohabitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by training citizens in civic rights and duties. Photo by Betty Kazadi Musau, UM News.

Key points:

  • With a goal of strengthening peace and cohabitation among the Congolese, leaders in two ecclesiastical districts received training.
  • Civic education leaders learned about the Congolese electoral system, the rights and duties of citizens, and the fight against violence and hate speech.
  • “This training is very important to us,” said Mutombo wa Maloba Elizabeth, vice president, Tanganyika Conference United Methodist Women in Faith.

Five months before elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The United Methodist Church in the North Katanga Episcopal Area is conducting civic education to strengthen peace and cohabitation among the Congolese people.

The church is also working to prevent hate speech before, during and after the country's upcoming elections in the digital and technological age.

In July 2023, the church trained civic education leaders in the ecclesiastical districts of Manono and Kalemie in the Tanganyika Annual Conference.

According to Manono training facilitator Nkumwimba Wa Mwamba Valeri, the initiative was developed by Bishop Mande Muyombo, North Katanga Episcopal Area, as a unifying and peacemaking effort.

The initiative aims to strengthen peace and cohabitation between Congolese, and to make citizens aware of their civic rights and duties. Nkumwimba declared that civic education is essential for a healthy democracy.

“Every citizen has a duty to know their rights and duties, and to participate in the democratic process,” he said. “That's why we're committed to training leaders in civic education.”

Subscribe to our
e-newsletter

Like what you're reading and want to see more? Sign up for our free daily and weekly digests of important news and events in the life of The United Methodist Church.

Keep me informed!

Civic-education leaders learned about the Congolese electoral system, the rights and duties of citizens, and the fight against violence and hate speech.

According to Nkumwimba, people from Manono to Kabalo — two localities located in the DRC's Tanganyika province — have abandoned their villages and fled due to the conflict between the Twa and Buntu ethnic groups.

Marcel Muzinga, a lawyer in Kalemie and a trainer for the Independent National Electoral Commission, stressed the importance of citizens knowing their rights and duties.

“Everyone has rights and duties to fulfill during the election period,” he said. “It's important to inform yourself about the electoral process and cast an informed vote.”

In a context of false peace due to the ethnic conflict in Manono, Muzinga said, “the women of Manono are strong and are encouraged to respect their husbands and look after their children, despite the invitation to participate in local politics.”

Catholic priest Alain Kabange focused on the participation of women and young people in political life. “Women and young people are often marginalized in the political process,” he said. “It's important to make them aware of their civic rights and duties and encourage them to get involved in politics.”

The denomination’s work in this field was welcomed by local Congolese government authorities.

“This training is very important to us,” said Mutombo wa Maloba Elizabeth, vice president, Tanganyika Conference United Women in Faith. “It has enabled us to learn about our civic rights and duties, and to understand how to participate in the democratic process.”

Musau is director of communications for the North Katanga Episcopal Area.

Press contact: Julie Dwyer, editor-in-chief, newsdesk@umcom.org or 615-742-5469. To read more news from The United Methodist Church, subscribe to our free daily or weekly Digests.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Disaster Relief
Kashalile Bony (right), a United Methodist from the Bethlehem Local Church in Kadutu, Congo, searches through the rubble of his burned-down house on Kaduru Avenue in Bukavu in eastern Congo. United Methodists are among nearly 1,500 families who lost their homes in a devastating fire on July 17. Photo courtesy of the Bukavu District.

Fire devastates church families in eastern Congo

United Methodists are among nearly 1,500 families who lost their homes in a fire that ravaged a densely populated area of war-torn Bukavu.
Global Health
Dr. Lyduine Baradahana (left), Burundi Minister of Public Health and AIDS Control, cuts the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony for the Gahambwe Health Center in Burundi’s Ruyigi province, alongside United Methodist Bishop Emmanuel Sinzohagera (center) and the Rev. Japhet Nderibicuro, superintendent of the Kinyinya District. The event marks the culmination of a partnership between The United Methodist Church of Burundi and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries to improve access to health care in the region. Photo by Jérôme Ndayisenga, UM News.

Church builds medical facility in Burundi

The United Methodist Church of Burundi has inaugurated the Gahambwe Health Center, ending decades of struggle to access health care.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved