VOA标准英语2011--Eastern Congolese Gear Up for Election

Eastern Congolese Gear Up for Election

 

The eastern provinces are some of the most volatile¹ parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and have been plagued by war and humanitarian² crisis for decades. This week, as they gear up to vote in Congo's second election since the end of a civil war, some voters are jubilant, while others fear - and threaten - that these elections will not be peaceful.

In the final days of campaigning, trucks packed with dancers and bullhorns play music and crisscross the North Kivu provincial³ capital, Goma. Campaign posters occupy every available space. There are 11 contenders for the DRC's presidential seat and about 1,800 candidates running for parliament.

With no pollsters here, everyone is certain their candidate will win. But no one is certain the elections will come off on time, peacefully or fairly.

In a crowd of like-minded citizens, Deborah Musafari says she supports Vital Kamerhe, one of the top three contenders for president. But she fears that if he wins there will be renewed violence. "We fear the elections won’t be peaceful because some people say if their candidate doesn’t win they will go back to fighting in the bush. We don’t want another rebellion," she said. "We know that Kamerhe has won -- voting is just a formality."

People walk under a giant poster showing Democratic Republic of the Congo 's President and candidate for a second term Joseph Kabila, in Kinshasa, November 7, 2011.

This crowd says the only way current President Joseph Kabila can win is if the elections are rigged. They say if that happens, they plan to take to the streets.

But local ruling party leaders say they are optimistic about Monday’s polls, saying they are preparing for a clean election. Cyrille Muhongya leads President Kabila's campaign in North Kivu. He says the president, the only elected head of state in the DRC in more than 40 years, will surely win.

"It is him who is engaging in the process of national reconstruction⁴ because the country was at war for a long time," Muhongya noted⁵. "Our country once had ethnic⁶ wars, and many other battles."

But opponents say Kabila has had his chance. They say he promised easterners development, humanitarian aid and peace. But on the dusty streets of Goma, it is clear that there is still desperate need of all three.

Christian⁷ Badose is candidate number 100 of about the 1,800 running for parliament. He supports Etienne Tshisekedi, who is likely Mr. Kabila’s most formidable opponent. He says he doubts the electoral commission has the ability to hold credible⁸, transparent⁹ elections.

"The people working for the electoral commission are the same as those in 2006 and they didn’t prove they had the capacity to hold neutral elections. This is why we don’t think the elections will be transparent," Badose said.

Hopes and tensions are high as campaigns wind down, and commissioners¹⁰ prepare for Monday’s contest.

And although some observers say the preparations have been chaotic¹¹, and the logistics are not in place for a vote, local residents say it is their turn to make their voices heard.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

4 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

9 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

10 commissioners   

n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官

参考例句：

• The Commissioners of Inland Revenue control British national taxes. 国家税收委员管理英国全国的税收。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The SEC has five commissioners who are appointed by the president. 证券交易委员会有５名委员，是由总统任命的。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

11 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。