Title: Tribunes of popular expression in Kimpese: the voice of the population is heard
Introduction :
The population of Kimpese, a town located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recently responded to the call from Joly Toko, journalist and host of programs on RTCK, to participate in public expression forums. These meetings aim to discuss subjects that concern the local population, such as insecurity, the distribution of electrical energy and the development of infrastructure to facilitate the sale of market garden products. Unfortunately, despite the enthusiasm of the population, local leaders were absent from these forums.
Joly Toko’s initiative:
Joly Toko, with his own resources, organizes these forums for popular expression in order to give voice to the inhabitants of Kimpese. He is personally invested in allowing the population to express themselves on subjects that affect and concern them. Although he did not receive any specific funding for these meetings, he sees the participation of residents and the resulting solutions as the essence of his approach. In the past, several similar meetings have led to the resolution of problems such as overbilling for electricity consumption.
Topics covered during the forums:
During the last public expression forum, participants debated several issues. Insecurity due to “Kuluna”, criminal groups operating in the region, was at the center of discussions. Residents also raised the need for more stable electrical energy distribution through the installation of an electrical feeder. Finally, the development of places dedicated to the sale of market garden products was mentioned to facilitate the sale of harvests.
The absence of local leaders:
Despite the importance of these forums for public expression, local leaders were conspicuous by their absence. However, these meetings would have been the ideal opportunity to discuss with the population and find solutions together to the problems raised. This absence can be seen as a lack of consideration for the concerns of the citizens of Kimpese.
Conclusion :
The forums for popular expression organized by Joly Toko allowed the population of Kimpese to make their voice heard on crucial subjects such as insecurity, the distribution of electrical energy and the development of infrastructure for market garden products. Despite the absence of local leaders, the active participation of residents made it possible to identify problems and propose solutions. It is essential that leaders take these concerns into account and become more involved in the development of their community. The voice of the people must not remain a dead letter, but must be listened to and taken into account to ensure a better future for Kimpese.