The bill revising the family code affecting dowry, engagement and polygamy is sparking debate in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The determination of the amount to be paid by the family of the husband to that of the future spouse is one of the most controversial points. While some MPs recognize the innovations contained in the proposal, others, like Solange Masumbuko, are against fixing the amount for a woman’s dowry.
The question of the dowry is very symbolic in certain cultures. For example, among the Bashi, an ethnic group in South Kivu, the dowry is discussed during an argument meeting. It is the meeting between two families who are looking for the most eloquent spokesperson and that is the very beauty of kizombo, according to Solange Masumbuko. The national deputy maintains that being heard is priceless and that the dowry, as a custom, should not be abolished. However, this does not mean that MPs should ignore the depravities or excesses linked to traditional customs.
In addition, the bill also includes positive points such as the criminal nature of the violation of the inheritance process or the criminalization of acts of polyandry. According to her, these innovations will make it possible to solve certain recurring problems at the level of Congolese families.
The revision of the family code remains a sensitive subject in the DRC and it is necessary to deal with this issue with caution. Some MPs want to safeguard the values of an entire nation while others fear that this legislative development will affect the beauty of certain traditional customs. The debates are therefore far from over.
Also find other news in the DRC: the promising economic partnership between the DRC and Botswana, the decision of the Court of Cassation on the universal jurisdiction of French justice over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed abroad , or the visit of the largest diamond mining site in the world by President Tshisekedi