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BUILDING THE MIDDLE CLASS: TRANSFORMING THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO’S FUTURE

by Mostafa Sleem updated on May 21, 2024

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), renowned for its vast wealth in natural resources and status as the second-largest country in Africa, paradoxically remains one of the poorest nations globally, marked by a significant class divide. Despite its abundant resources, the DRC has endured decades of corruption and mismanagement that have severely hindered its development. To cultivate a thriving middle class and unlock the nation’s full potential, a multifaceted approach encompassing economic, social, and institutional reforms is imperative. 

The ongoing instability in the eastern regions has resulted in the displacement of millions of Congolese, with the government facing significant challenges in providing adequate support and security. These challenges are compounded by inadequate infrastructure, which hampers the movement of goods and people. This instability exacerbates the nation’s poverty and significantly hinders development efforts. 

One of the most significant challenges facing the DRC is its substantial digital divide. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported that internet penetration in the DRC was a mere 18.2% in 2021. This digital gap limits access to global information and opportunities, hampering the country’s ability to integrate into the global economy and boost its regional and international trade. Furthermore, the education system has failed to produce a skilled labor force, restricting the population’s development and their ability to diversify their skillsets and create a diversified market. 

In recent years, the DRC’s government has turned to its diaspora for assistance, boosting its foreign affairs to engage with its diaspora to promote their return with their specific skill sets. These individuals, having studied and gained experience abroad, were expected to bring positive change and innovative ideas to promote entrepreneurship and SMEs. However, many have succumbed to the same issues of corruption and mismanagement, prioritizing quick wealth generation over long-term development. South Korea’s development, marked by investment in education, innovation, and strong industrial policies that supported key sectors, serves as a valuable model.

 

To diversify the country and build a robust middle class, the DRC must focus on human development, particularly education and skill development. Providing access to quality education at all levels is crucial, involving improvements in infrastructure, teacher training, and curriculum relevance. UNESCO reports that the literacy rate in the DRC was around 77% in 2020, but there is significant room for improvement, particularly in rural areas. The government could also open doors for regulated private schools to ensure that the skills of the Congolese are utilized within the country for its sovereign interest. Collaborations between private and public sectors to offer vocational training and skill development programs are essential, equipping individuals with the skills needed for the job market, especially in high-demand sectors. This approach can set the DRC on a course for the next 15 years, preparing a new, educated generation. 

Infrastructure development is another critical area for fostering economic growth. Today, it is almost impossible to achieve equity for all in the DRC, as some provinces still lack basic necessities such as roads, health institutes, and digital inclusion. Energy supply is also essential for industrial development and improving living standards. In 2021, only 19% of the population had access to electricity, highlighting the urgent need for energy infrastructure development.  

China’s rapid growth and expansion of its middle class is a prime example. Driven by economic reforms, investment in infrastructure, and significant improvements in education and healthcare, China is set today to be a dominant power, a rival to the USA. Developing infrastructure such as roads, ports, and communication networks can facilitate trade, reduce costs, and attract businesses. 

As the world transitions from the digital era to the AI era, the DRC has yet to fully embrace these advancements. E-government deployment is crucial for efficiency, but connectivity and technology can drive innovation, economic growth, and the creation of high-paying jobs. Despite several measures to bridge the digital gap, development remains slow. Vodacom has made significant strides in bridging digital penetration in the DRC, covering almost 61% of the country, but many areas still lack access to cell phones. Promoting digital literacy and expanding internet access can open up new economic opportunities and enhance productivity. 

Economic and social development also hinge on financial inclusion. Following a loss of faith in the banking sector, only 7% of the DRC’s population is banked, according to a report by McKinsey & Company. Banks such as Equity BCDC (formerly Pro-Credit and BCDC) and TMB have been acquired by bigger banks, potentially facilitating the development of the financial sector. With Equity’s mission to champion socio-economic development, competition between Equity and Raw bank is now fierce, forcing both to compete to provide the best services in the DRC. 

Facilitating access to credit, savings, and insurance services for individuals and small businesses can promote entrepreneurship and economic participation. Supporting microfinance institutions that provide financial services to low-income households and small enterprises can help them grow and stabilize their incomes, especially in rural areas. 

 


However, economic growth and stability depend on creating a favorable business environment. Singapore’s development strategy, which included policy reforms, investing in human capital, and maintaining political stability, offers valuable lessons. Implementing policies that promote stable and sustainable economic growth is essential. This includes maintaining low inflation, sound fiscal policies, and a stable exchange rate. Reducing dependency on a single sector (e.g., natural resources) and promoting a diversified economy can help create jobs and stabilize incomes. Ensuring the rule of law, property rights, and contract enforcement can create a stable business environment. Implementing anti-corruption measures and promoting transparency can improve public trust and attract investment. 

Agriculture is a promising field, with more than 85 million hectares of arable land. The country can promote regional integration to provide food to its neighboring countries. With a favorable business environment and incentives to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), the DRC can spur industrial growth and job creation. 

Establishing social safety nets, such as unemployment insurance and healthcare, can protect individuals from economic shocks and reduce poverty. Enforcing labor rights and promoting decent working conditions can improve job quality and income security. 

Although the DRC has a long journey ahead to build a robust job market capable of creating a thriving middle class, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the overall quality of life for its citizens, the path is clear. The citizens of the DRC have long lived in vulnerability and continued turmoil, and it is time to provide them with assurance for a better future. While the DRC holds immense potential as a solution country for the world, it must first become a solution for its own citizens. 

Addressing the main issues of a challenging business climate, poor infrastructure, and a lack of skilled workers is crucial. Both the private and public sectors must collaborate to find ways to elevate the lives of the Congolese people, helping them live up to their nation’s reputation for wealth and capabilities. By focusing on comprehensive reforms in education, infrastructure, and financial inclusion, and fostering a favorable business environment, the DRC can set the stage for a brighter, more prosperous future. 

The commitment to these changes will not only unlock the country’s potential but also ensure that the benefits of its abundant resources and strategic position are felt by all its citizens. The journey may be long and arduous, but with determination and coordinated efforts, the DRC can transform its socio-economic landscape, creating a resilient middle class and a thriving nation.



Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS