Interview

Jean-Marie Kassamba: "China is only a partner among many others"

Things are looking up with the five work sites? Mr. Jean-Marie Kassamba, Projects Chief speaks about this ambitious project that the Head of State is being implemented. Because for him, is both a challenge and a bet to be gained. "Congo, a country blessed, needs a dynamic leadership to take off”, said Mr. Jean-Marie Kassamba.

Q: You are coordinator of the project "Promotion and Investment of the Five work sites" of the Head of State, a project about which one speaks a lot. How about the five work sites today?

Jean-Marie Kassamba: Thank you for the opportunity you offer us, we who are working so that our countrymen are informed of how our country changes from day to day. First, I would like to rectify two things. The first: these are not the Head of State’s projects, but they were initiated by him, today handed to the Congolese people, wherever they are to implement them in order to transform our country. Everything begun when the President noticed that everything was destroyed in the country. During the election period, remember, he made a proposal for five work sites which are now under way. With institutions and the texts that we have voted, with state structures which are functioning, with the support of that the Head of State and the entire government have mobilized to realize these five work sites, we are in the phase of concrete realization.

Q. : The opinion doesn’t think like this because, when we see Chinese investments to be a little confused with the five work sites, it seems to favor the East part while the West is forgotten…

JMK: Exactly. We should not govern our country with impressions. We must rely on objective information. I have spoken just now mobilizing resources that we have. We have three billion U.S. dollars of the Budget in equity. We have a lot of resources provided by our partners including the World Bank, the European Union, the African Development Bank, South Africa, China and other partners that continue to come. All these means will justify the realization of the five work sites. We received, not long ago, many materials from China deployed throughout the Republic.
The current August 28, we will begin to receive 11 brigades for the Office des Routes (OR). We have a lot of materials. More than what we received from China. These materials were purchased in USA, Holland, Belgium on equity capital of the Republic. The OR has always benefited from the equipment either of the World Bank or some partners. All these sites are open everywhere to open up our country, to build hospitals, schools, etc... One thinks that nothing happens?

Q. The purchase was made on equity. When you look at our budget, it is pathetic. There is almost nothing. The treasury is quite empty. Where this money from? Does it come from China?

JMK: Not. It should be noted that China is only a partner among many others. A simple example: an American company Tenke-Fungurume invested in our country almost a billion dollars. Nobody speaks about it. And in two or three years, the amount will up to ten billion dollars. Why one speaks only about China? Because with what Americans intend to do, infrastructure construction is also concerned, the environment will be transformed, there will be job creation. It has already begun to create jobs in Katanga. You just go there to see. So we are quite calm, because we are at work.

Q. You say that one doesn’t speak about billions what Americans have invested but why people speak so much about China?

JMK: Because in our country people love the spectacular and sensational scene. One speaks much about China because it is one of the largest contracts. The press made that the attention is focused on these contracts, while the most important exist but they are not the subject of debate. Another aspect: those who do not want this country changes, as they see the financial power of China, pragmatic interests of the Chinese vis-à-vis Africa, they discourage this dynamism, this new deal so that our country does not enjoy, like others, the dynamic China.

Q. Are these contracts with Chinese companies leonine?  Because there is a din within the Congolese opinion and the parliament has spoken about it. What do you think?

JMK: First, the leonine term is a misnomer because the objective analysis of the case shows that there is a self-management. The joint ventures with Chinese companies and heritage Congolese are still at the General quarries and mines (Gecamines) and the new structure created. Throughout the period the management of this partnership, there will be production to be sold, there will be the creation of wealth. So there's nothing leonine. We have 32% of shares. Today, in most contracts with Gecamines, we have less than 20%. Please note that the products sales of wealth derived from the basement will repay the capital invested. And we gain across the board. We will rehabilitate the Inga hydroelectric dam and we will carry lélectricité up in mines and quarries. The villagers will benefit. This will create wealth. What is this leader who would not give this to its people, its people?

Q. Do they think about the future of copper?

JMK: We do not have that copper as wealth. There are so many other minerals… People come to discover in other provinces. In the two Kasai, for example, many mineral reserves are untapped. The operation may take several years, 20 years, 30 years. When you have a large money supply, we can develop agriculture because we have a fertile land. We can develop fisheries. We have so much wealth today untapped due to lack of availability, ie money can buy gear, pre-finance projects. Our state is poor. Inevitably, there is nothing we can do if we do not have ourselves an important financial capacity. In addition, copper is not our only manna. If there is more copper, zinc ago, diamonds, cobalt, nickel, water, electricity, etc... We are one of the biggest electricity producers in the world that can not yet for sale. Thus, Congo is a country blessed that only requires a dynamic and engaging leadership.

Q. Health and Education are included in the five work sites. Is not there any contradiction somewhere because teachers, doctors are not paid?

JMK: When we cure a patient, there are always transitional phases which are painful. But he will be fully recovered; we will have forgotten all these transitional phases. What we're living, including strikes, some episodic situations at the hotel because there is not enough cash in the short term, is transient fever. When we accumulate substantial financial resources, when our hotel will be structured, when we have a dynamic engaging and committed the five work sites, we won’t be focused on basic needs, primary existential wages

Q. The opinion thinks that there is not enough communication…

JMK: We must always communicate and every day. Each leader must communicate. The media has this role to educate, train and inform objectively this opinion must be framed. We must not let the media play a role accompanying unnecessary tensions. Their role is to explain what Mr. entire world can not understand at first sight. They collect information, trafficking and forwards. It is quite normal for a mother, who did not see its increased purchasing power, is concerned. The same goes for a doctor who is paid less than $ 1,000 and which has problems of all kinds. Not to mention a teacher or any other parent on the eve of the school year.
In sum, the role of a leader is to see further, as what the Head of State is still doing. With this batch of material that we will receive, we will open up many of our provinces. We will discourage migration from rural areas to enable the agricultural service. We will allow communication between provinces and viable our wealth.

Q. Do you think that the Chinese, who will work for five work sites, will be different from imperialists as Westerners in the past?

JMK: The Chinese are human beings like you and me. And this is not the first time that the Chinese are in Congo. They are in a long time. We must not find in the Chinese gentlemen who will come to change everything. They are partners as others. We are mobilizing to give us a boost in this momentum with us. As we have experienced many situations, especially with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. And we know the results. Fortunately, China is committed anywhere for building the infrastructure to help some governments to move quickly enough. There are flattering results, because China mobilizes sufficient financial resources, meets the basic needs of populations. And the Congo was also involved in this dynamic, as do Americans, French and other Asian countries. The Congo is open. You will recall that a prince of the UAE came here to build a large hotel with 450 rooms and buildings to 26 floors. In the near future, Brazilians come. The Congo has become a "most beautiful woman." The first concern that I have today is the involvement of the Congolese themselves in the Five yards. All of this must also require the participation of captains of industries Congolese. It should not be that all companies subcontracting may be that, all foreign companies. It should, for example, that the structure that manages a construction site is accompanied by two companies Congolese for the redistribution of financial resources that wealth should be first for the Congolese, then the partners who come to us. That is the watchword that must be conveyed today by all. It is essential that the Congolese involved in the dynamics of five yards because there are job creation, wealth sharing, a lot of things to do together.

Q. When signing Chinese contracts, Did they analyzed geo-strategic issues?

JMK: The geostrategic challenges today are to have a strong and prosperous Congo within our sub-region of Central Africa. Because there will be pools South Africa, DRC, Nigeria and some countries in North Africa. The ambition of the President of the Republic is making the Congo a strong country economically, a country consolidated inside and radiates. We should not have to be a giant with feet of clay, with a large area including wealth used wisely capitalized. The geo-strategic issues are primarily the economy.
For globalization, those are multinationals who have control over the economy in the world. If your home, there is no market that is of interest to multinationals. And the Head of State wished that goes from artisanal to industrial, with the value added, so that the Congolese benefit. A diplomat told me one day in DRC, everybody eats, except for the Congolese. It is the latter smiled, too, for he is not asking for accounts one day the leaders.

Q.  We talked about Chinese. But there are Indians, Turks, and Brazilians. Some believe that there is not a well-prepared plan to coordinate all these investments.  

JMK: The President of the Republic and I think the government, working on specific timelines. We published at the level of coordination of the five work sites to the Ministry of Planning, a 140-page document for the philosophy of these sites. This document presents the sites in a manner much more programmed. It prioritizes priorities. It began with the establishment of texts, institutions. Now is the mobilization of resources and effective launching sites, province by province. The Congo is not flown in sight. It works on a scheme quite clear. We must admit that there are still some problems in coordination. The very important thing to do is to implement our project. And all projects: energy, housing, education, health, infrastructure…. We must exclude that there is not Chinese who have been called; we also have Americans, Brazilians, and South Africans.

Q. Some observers believe that the Congolese Diaspora was forgotten in the five work sites’ program?

This is a first, first. For once, the Congolese government mobilizes resources to bring the Congolese from abroad to come discuss the role they can play in this republic. Hold. Myself, I am of the Diaspora. I come to what I can do, what I have learned to apply in my country. Kennedy said he would have to ask the manager what he can do for you can do, but what you can bring to your country.
There are several categories of Congolese from abroad: those who are willing to come; others stalwarts who think that nothing works. There are those who have passed through here, but were disappointed. But today, the train is so committed on track that common sense advice that we must take place on board. The train will stop at every station to board people of good will, motivated to take place on board.

Q. But there are no structures where they can be involved in?

JMK: Of course there are. Many have left the country, each in its own way. Among them political exiles, those who are left with tourist visas they have transformed into living, and so on. The road back may also be done on an individual basis, examining such a case. It will be the recall of troops as Israel has. Imagine yourself all these compatriots who send money to their families but who have existential problems.
Many are discouraged and returning abroad. We must dwell on these facts. For here, the demand for money by the family and other friends is so strong. And to create a company is a lengthy process. Then to discipline our administration who thinks that the Congolese Diaspora is a tree that produces money. It’s an Illusion. But those who come should bring bankable projects.

Q. Let’s now talk about the communication. What is the Country’s image abroad? What do you who are next to the Head of State to restore this image, after all, not brilliant?

JMK: When there was no system of values in our country, everything was depraved. Education, morality, good governance, everything was depraved. Everybody has fled or almost. Even our identity, our diplomas were worthless. When I arrived in France, I was asked the equivalence to make my level credible. You can not transform 40 years of depravity within 5 or 10 years. It is a long-term work. When the President spoke of the change of mentalities, anti-values, that is what it is. The evil is so deep that we must begin very thing, especially the family. And the country's image, it's an extension of what happens here. Personally, I have fought that for almost 25 years in France. Seeing compatriots engage in practices not creditable. You are going to extrapolate that to other countries. All of this creates the poor image of our country, if it is not supported by good leadership at the national level. The President is doing is best. He succeeded at the diplomatic level. He will do so on terms of the administration, with good governance. Around him, too, there will be a dynamic management of our country’s image, in a consistent, programmed way, structured so that we can no longer attend improvisations that don’t honor the Republic. These are concerns of every day and it will be done in a short time.

From Le Potentiel

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