The bill brought by the national deputy Daniel Mbau aiming to fix the sum reserved for the dowry at $500 and to limit the engagement period to less than one year continues to provoke debate in the DRC. The Desk Femme d’Actualité.cd interviewed young women in Kinshasa to gather their opinions.
The majority of young women interviewed pointed out that setting the dowry at $500 has no value and is not fair. Some of them believe that the minimum sum should be $1500, because it represents the investment that their parents have made to give them a quality education. Abundant in the same direction, other young women believe that it is not up to the State to fix the sum of the dowry and that this must be negotiated between the two families.
Regarding the proposal to limit the engagement period to less than a year, several young women oppose it. According to Divine Mvuezolo, a cashier in a supermarket, this proposal can lead to haste and rush in the commitment, which can be detrimental for couples and their future.
Other young women believe that this proposal can nevertheless contribute to the reduction of consensual unions in the DRC and encourage young people to marry early. The engagement time limit can also reduce the number of couples who have unofficial relationships that can be morally, socially and economically damaging.
Nevertheless, some young women pointed out that setting a sum for the dowry and limiting the engagement period is not suited to the situation of rural populations where access to financial resources is more difficult.
It is therefore important for policy makers to listen to different opinions and assess the consequences of such proposals before implementing them. Social and family reforms must always be adapted to the realities and needs of the populations concerned.