A framework for harnessing lubumbashi multiplicity ethnic association's conflicts/ created by Martin Kayembe and Stanley Murairwa

This article investigated the manner in which multiple ethnic association cohabitate in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The article explored the causes of the conflicts and analysed the government strategies put in place to curb the conflicts of the ethnic associations. The article provides a system of governance that can help Lubumbashi ethnic associations to cohabitate in unity and peace. The conflicts are ethnically driven and therefore, the article sought the participants' perceptions through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The article used a mixed research method and engaged 40 participants selected randomly drawn from a population of 1 373 770 Congolese in Lubumbashi. The article discovered that the causes of the conflicts among the Lubumbashi ethnic associations could be traced back to the colonial epoch. The principal cause of the ethnic conflicts was the desire for power.The article established that during the colonial era, other ethnic groups were brought from other provinces to Katanga province, particularly in Lubumbashi, as cheap mining labourers. However, the inhabitants who originally hailed in Lubumbashi (Katangese) were not comfortable to be governed by other ethnic groups who originated from other provinces of the DRC. This led to the formation of the Katanga Foundation (FONKAT) to fight other ethnic groups in order to maintain its supremacy in the Katanga province. The article proposed a multiplicity ethnic governance framework. The framework reinforces the idea of national integration, power rotation, participation and inclusion of all ethnic groups in the Katanga governance.