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'Children's Parliament' Sets High Bar in Congo
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Up and down the crumbling dirt roads here, it is common to see toddlers hauling heavy jugs of water, teetering under the weight. A steady stream of twig-legged boys make their way down from the surrounding mountains into Goma every day, pushing wooden bicycles twice their size and piled impossibly high with bananas.
"When I see such kinds of problems, it makes me think that in the future, I will become a man of revolution to fight against this mistreatment of children," Musoke said. "All the world knows Congo is a big, rich country, and I would make it worthy of its name."
Kayumba said he imagines a political career.
"I want to be president of the republic," he said.
Musoke smiled. "When I was young, I had some thoughts like my brother here," the younger boy said.
It was almost 4 p.m. The parliamentarians had been at Goma's jail most of the day, explaining to the officers there that it is illegal to imprison those younger than 18 and lobbying for the youthful inmates' release. Case No. 4 came later that afternoon, and now it was time for the parliament's weekly radio broadcast.
Musoke and Kayumba headed toward the radio station, a 20-minute walk away at the top of a hill overlooking Goma. The long-suffering city is still covered in lava from a volcanic eruption in 2002.
They took their seats in the broadcast booth, where they were joined by special guests Merline and Dimanche, two 16-year-old girls who are also parliamentarians. Musoke sat up straight, glanced at his notes like an old pro and awaited his cue.
"Why this discrimination between boys and girls?" he began, by way of introducing the show's topic.
"Thank you, Honorable Eddy," Kayumba said. "This inequality is caused by traditions. In many families and tribes, they give greater importance to boys than to girls. When a woman is not educated, all the nation is in danger, because it is the woman who gives the basic education to the children."
The show continued for half an hour, the teenagers debating the origins of gender inequality in Congo.
Then the Honorable Eddy signed off.
"We thank you all, dear listeners," he said, and the four went back to the office to finish some work.
