DR Congo Elections: Country prepares to vote after 2-year delay

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02:45

The Electoral Commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo says it has acquired all the polling material required to organize elections in December. The planned voting comes after a two-year delay. The country's government rejected financial assistance from Western powers who said they were willing to help fund the election. CGTN's Chris Ocham-ringa has more.

The start of campaigns in Kinshasa is exciting many supporters of presidential candidates contesting the December elections. The election has been delayed for two years because President Kabila remained in office after the expiry of his mandate in 2016.

But preparations for holding the polls are in full flow now. The government has bought army trucks to transport the election materials across the country. And the DRC's Independent National Electoral Commission says it's ready to organize the vote.

JEAN PIERRE KALAMBA SPOKESPERSON, CENI "CENI's operational plans for the elections are on course. We've acquired all the materials for the polling stations."

According to the United Nations, the DRC has a population of 80 million people, the majority of whom live in poverty. Many Congolese citizens want the next leader to improve the economy and uphold democratic principles.

ANNY ODYA MEMBER, MLC PARTY "We will be happy to get a president who will restore security, improve the healthcare system and provide better salaries for workers."

NGONGO WABAGAZI OPPOSITION ACTIVIST "We young people want a leader who will maintain democracy."

Candidates are now traveling around the DRC seeking to win over voters ahead of the December 23rd election. But some opposition members are calling for a boycott of the polls over the electronic voting machines which they claim will be used to rig the vote. An allegation that the electoral commission has denied.

Twenty one candidates originally registered for the polls. But 3 of them stood down to allow colleagues from their parties to stand forward. The frontrunners are the opposition's Martin Fayulu, Felix Tshisekedi and the ruling party's Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

AWE MAGIE MUSICIAN "We should all rally behind Shadary because of his previous achievements as interior minister."

The DRC is yet to see a peaceful transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. People here are desperate for that to change.