United Methodists killed in Congo shipwreck

Key points:

• A ferry boat capsized on Lake Kivu earlier this month, killing 34 people, including Pascaline Mulindwa, an active member of Goma United Methodist Church, and her 9-month-old baby.
• The United Methodist Church in Goma mourned Mulindwa’s death, praising her commitment and faith. Bishop Gabriel Unda Yemba called for prayer and support for the bereaved families.
• Since the accident, Congolese authorities have taken steps to reinforce safety on Lake Kivu.

Pascaline Mulindwa, a mother of eight and a fervent United Methodist, was one of 34 victims of a shipwreck in the eastern part of Congo on Oct. 3. Her 9-month-old baby also died.

Mulindwa, 34, was an active member of Goma United Methodist in the Kivu Conference.

“Mama Pascaline Mulindwa was a Methodist woman committed to the Lord’s work in the Kalehe and Goma circuit,” said Joseph Musanganya, a lay leader in Kalehe.

The ferry boat accident was yet another tragedy in this region, which has been ravaged by war between several armed groups.

At the beginning of October, the boat, MV/Merdi, left Minova in South Kivu and was heading for Goma, the capital of North Kivu in Congo.

The boat, full of passengers and foodstuffs, began to sink around 100 meters (328 feet) from the landing area in the port of Kituku, to the horror of family members in Goma who had come to wait for their relatives traveling on board. Authorities said 58 people were rescued, but the exact number of people on the boat at the time of the accident is unknown.

Clarisse Rwicha’s uncle, Faustin Byamungu Fumbu, is among the survivors. She said her uncle is still in shock.

“He told us how it happened. There was a big wave, and they were close to the port of Kituku when the captain started to move forward quickly instead of slowing down. Then the boat turned toward the water,” she said.

Lay leader Musanganya said he was saddened by the death of Mulindwa and her baby. “We have just lost a brave and courageous woman,” he commented.

Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, resident bishop of The United Methodist Church in eastern Congo, offered his prayers for those affected by the tragedy.

“It was with deep sadness that I learned of this terrible shipwreck,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims, and, in particular, to the family of Pascaline Mulindwa, a faithful servant of God.”

Mulindwa was described as a singer and evangelist committed to the work of the Lord. She is survived by her seven children ranging in age from 8 to 17.

“The loss of a life is always a tragedy, but the loss of a mother and child in such circumstances is particularly heartbreaking,” Unda said. “May God bring consolation and comfort to all those affected by this tragedy.”

Congo President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi asked the deputy prime minister for transport to launch an investigation into the tragedy, according to a press release from the president’s communications department.

Congolese authorities already have taken steps to reinforce safety on Lake Kivu. The Ministry of Transport has made it a requirement for all passengers in boats on the lake to wear life jackets. The decision is part of a package of safety measures that also includes technical inspections of boats and the suspension of lake commissioners who monitor boat traffic.

“The compulsory wearing of life jackets is an essential measure for improving safety on Lake Kivu,” said the Rev. Henry Jean Robert Kasongo Numbize, a United Methodist pastor based in Goma. “However, its application will require passenger awareness and efforts to ensure the availability of life jackets for all.”

He expressed his regret at the loss of Mulindwa. “The church still needed her,” he said.

Bishop Unda insisted on faith and hope as families grieve.

“Even in pain and hardship, we keep faith in a God of love and compassion,” he said. “May the memory of Pascaline Mulindwa and her child inspire us to live each day in the light of the gospel,” he said.

Lolonga is a communicator for the Kivu Conference.

UM News contact: Julie Dwyer at 615-742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist News, subscribe to the free UM News Digests.