News - Deaf World

Deaf hit by Texting Ban

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The government of the Democratic Rebublic of Congo has banned SMS messages more than a week ago to preserve "public order" following rows over  elections.  President Joseph Kabila was declared the winner, but his main rival, Etienne Tshisekedi, rejected the result. Congo is havign its second set of electons since the 1998-2003 war which claimed about four million lives.

There are a around  1.4 million deaf people in DR Congo, which is recovering from years of conflict.

"Since 3 December, we've been unhappy," said Pastor Kisangala, the deaf community's religious minister in the capital, Kinshasa."We're finding it very hard to communicate. All our communications used to go through SMS messages," he says.

The measure means deaf Congolese are now unable to communicate.

"Our members are scattered across the city, some are ill in hospital, others are dying. Without communication we don't even know about it," Mr Kisangala said.

"Few of them have been coming here, whereas with text messages, many used to come to church here on a Sunday." 

In Congo very few Deaf have access to Computer or email so texting is very important.  

Mr Mwanza says deaf people are considering what they should do to get the ban lifted.  "Let's enforce democracy and free up SMS messaging," he said. "If it continues, we may stage a protest march."