Electoral prospects in Kinshasa: issues and expectations of the population
As the general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) approach, the city of Kinshasa is at the heart of all attention. As part of a survey carried out by Target SARL, the electoral prospects in the Congolese capital were analyzed in order to assess the expectations and voting intentions of the population.
The first observation that emerges from this survey is the lack of knowledge among voters regarding the list of deputy candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). Indeed, a large part of Kinshasa voters admit to not knowing the names of the selected candidates. This lack of awareness is particularly high in the Tshangu district, where 73% of those questioned say they do not know the candidates. The commune of N’djili tops this list, with 39% of voters who are not familiar with the selected candidates.
Despite this lack of knowledge, voting intentions remain high in all the communes of Tshangu. In fact, more than 60% of voters express a desire to participate in the legislative elections. However, the majority of voters do not yet have a clear idea of which candidates they will vote for. The commune of N’sele records the highest percentage of voting intentions for the legislative elections, with 72% of voters ready to go to the polls.
Regarding the presidential election, voting intentions are also relatively high, with 63% of voters saying they are certain to participate in the vote. The municipality of Maluku stands out with 84% of voters affirming their intention to vote in the presidential election. This shows the importance of these elections for the population of Kinshasa, despite the ignorance of the candidates.
It is important to note that this survey offers valuable insight to both candidates and political parties and political groups seeking to position themselves and influence voters in the city-province of Kinshasa. The results of this survey highlight the need for better communication on the part of candidates in order to make their political program and their proposals known to the population.
In conclusion, the electoral outlook in Kinshasa presents both challenges and opportunities for candidates. Voters’ lack of knowledge about the successful candidates highlights the need for more effective communication on the part of political parties. The main expectations of voters concern transparency, integrity and the ability of future leaders to respond to the needs of the population. The next few months will be crucial for the candidates who will have to convince Kinshasa voters of their ability to make significant changes to their daily lives.