DRCONGO: CANADIAN AMBASSADOR DENOUNCE THE CONTINUAL ARBITRARY ARRESTS OF MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY

 

This comes after the United Nations' mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo , MONUSCO, released its report on the human right violations that took place in the month of August 2020, accross the national territory.

In a public statement, the Canadian Ambassador  Nicolas Simard said he had been told that officials from the Congolese national intelligence, Agence Nationale de Renseignements, continue to detain representatives of  civil society movements, in the eastern city of Bukavu. He then questioned how was this possible .

For the Ambassador, the Congolese population expect the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders and journalists be respected.

In the month of August 2020 , 669 violations of human rights was recorded across the national territory, this was a decrease of 9%, when compared to the 739 recorded in July 2020. The number of violations committed by security agents dropped by 12%, and those committed by armed groups decreased by 7% . The report was compiled by the United Nations' UNJHRO- MONUSCO.

Last week during a short visit in the city of  Goma, President Felix Tshisekedi promised to install himself  in the eastern part of the country in the coming days, with the aim of putting to an end the conflict that has been ravaging the region for decades. 

WATCH: SINGER KOFFI OLOMIDE MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER

Koffi Olomide's mother, affectionately known as Mama Amy, died on 03 October 2020. In a video message Koffi told his fans that the pain and  emotions he's going through is not something that he would wish on someone. 

DRCONGO: IT'S BEEN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS SINCE GOVERNMENT STOPPED ISSUING PASSPORTS AND CONGOLESE ARE NOW GETTING FRUSTRATED

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been unable to issue its citizens with new passports, almost four months after it ended its contract with controversial Belgium company Semlex.

 And now with the lifting of some travel restrictions, frustration is growing among Congolese travellers who are unable to access this necessary document.

For the Minister of Foreign Affairs Marie Tumba Nzeza, the file concerning the issuing of passports was held up at the Ministry of Budget. The Minister has since called on her fellow compatriots to be patient as she has sent a communication to her colleague to expedite the process.  

According to Tumba  Nzeza, her department had already completed the necessary work in terms of how it will go about producing and issuing the passports. The file was then sent to the Ministry of Budget to be granted the necessary support, once this was done a communication will   be issued to the public, she said. 

The  government of Congo had refused to renew its contract with Semlex, which was  awarded the right to produce Congolese passports, after an earlier investigation tainted the company as being corrupt.

The investigation  detailed how Semlex was overcharging for the cost of each passport, to the benefit of the company and members of Congo's political elite. 

DRCONGO: PRESIDENT TSHISEKEDI APPEALS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN SANCTIONING THOSE FUELING THE CONFLICT IN THE EASTERN REGION

Delivering his speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly Meeting, via a video link, the Congolese President told members that his country cannot eradicate the presence of arm groups if networks offering them support are not dismantled. According to reports from various Non-governmental organisations, multinational companies have been funding rebel groups in Congo by purchasing mineral resources extracted from mines controlled by the rebels; these minerals are transported to neighbouring countries, mainly Rwanda and Uganda, where they are then distributed to the global market.

 

It's for this reason President Felix Tshisekedi is appealing to the international community to help his country by identifying companies involved in conflict minerals and apply effective sanctions. 

Tshisekedi is under heavy domestic pressure as the seems to be no end in the brutal killing taking place in the country's east. The latest  incident took place just last Sunday 20 September 2020, where 12 people were massacred in the village of Mbau , in North Kivu Province. 

After coming to power President Felix Tshisekedi made a commitment to end the conflict in the east before his term expires. 

DRCONGO: OPPOSITION LEADER FAYULU CONTINUES TO MAKE CLAIMS OF FORMER PRESIDENT KABILA BEING IN CHARGE.

According to Martin Fayulu, the December 2018 General Elections never brought about change in the country's leadership as the Congolese people were made to believe; instead current President Felix Tshisekedi illegally grabbed power from the mass population, and as a result of that Joseph Kabila continues to rule.

Many independent observers, including the Congo's powerful Catholic Church, have always held the view that Martin Fayulu won the Elections of 2018, and that Joseph Kabila struck a deal with Felix Tshisekedi for the latter to become the Head of State.

The 63 year old opposition leader is now calling on all stakeholders to come together and take a brave stance in favour of political reforms. Fayulu added that the country cannot wait until the next Presidential Elections in 2023 to anticipate change.

In an interview with online publication France Info Afrique , Martin Fayulu also delved into the catastrophic and tragic situation unravelling in the eastern parts of the country.

He questioned why the killings and massacre of innocent civilians have gone on for decades. According to Fayulu more than 140 arm groups are operating in eastern Congo and despite the deployment of around 17000 United Nations (UN) force, the violence just doesn't seem to be coming to an end. In addition to that, the main perpetrators of the violence are yet to be held accountable, even with the conclusion of the UN mapping report, which named these main perpetrators. For Fayulu, the United Nations and the international community must tell the truth about what's really going on and who is benefiting from the ongoing conflict. 

DRCONGO: FINANCIAL DIRECTOR FOR VODACOM CONGO RELEASED

The financial director for the Democratic Republic of Congo's most profitable cellular network Vodacom Congo, has been released from custody.

 

Oomar Chuto was set free on 18 September 2020, after spending four days in detention, at the Office of the State Prosecutor.

He was arrested by the judicial police on suspicious of forgery and falsification of documents. It's alleged that Oomar Chuto had been forging Vodacom's financial statements as to reduced the tax and revenues the company owes to the State.

Last year 2019, Vodacom Congo, which is 51% owned by parent company Vodacom South Africa, was embroiled in a legal battle after the Congolese Ministry of Telecommunication withdrew its 2G license, citing irregularities in the awarding process. According to Minister Emery Okundji, Vodacom Congo had to pay USD65 million instead of the USD16 million it paid in order to obtain such license.

An agreement was later struck between both parties.

DRCONGO: MORE THAN USD250M OF CIVIL SERVANTS SALARIES DISAPPEARED, SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM

Interesting enough the electronic  payment system was introduced to end corruption and misappropriation of civil servants salaries, which was rampant when State employees were receiving their pay through sealed envelopes. 

But now  prosecutors in Kinshasa have launched an investigation to trace more than USD250 million of government money, lost under this banking system, put in place in 2011.

Its appears that the Congolese government had been loosing money through the creation of duplicate and fictitious accounts, where civil servants salaries will be swindled. 

The Congolese State recognises 1220 458 employees under its payroll, and would disburse a monthly sum of more than USD100 million for salaries settlements. According to the State Attorney though, around USD25 million of that amount is paid to only 50 individuals. The Attorney also revealed the existence of more than 170000 fictitious agents and duplicate accounts on government's civil servants database.

 Now it wants all banks that have been facilitating the payment transactions for State employees to handover all the financial records relating to such transaction.

 

The  State Prosecutor is also  investigating The Payroll Monitoring Committee PMC), an institution  of government charged with eradicating duplicate accounts and fictitious agents on the civil servant payroll system. Last year the head of PMC, Jean Louis Kayembe, was held in detention over a case involving the embezzlement of USD4,5 millon of treasury money. 

DRCONGO: FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA ATTENDS PARLIAMENTARY SESSION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE STEPPING DOWN

The People's Palace, which houses both the Senate and Parliamentary seatings, came to a standstill as former Congolese President Joseph Kabila made his way into the building, to attend  the opening of Parliament.

 Kabila was attending the session in his capacity as the  Senator for life. This marked a very significant step for the country's democracy as it rules out the possibility of Kabila returning in the near future to contest the Presidential Elections.

 

According to the Congolese Constitution, once the President finishes serving a second term , he/she will step down and automatically becomes a Senator for life .

In recent months there have been speculations that Kabila will make a come back and contest the 2023  elections, such speculations are said to be driven by campaigns from some members of his political party, who fear that their political influence and control is slowly drifting away.

Even though Joseph Kabila's coalition movement, The Common Front for Congo (FCC),  holds majority seats in Parliament, they are struggling to push through some of the contentious laws, obstructed by pressure from the  current President, Felix Tshisekedi. 

Earlier in the year some members of the FCC tried to introduce the law that would have weaken the power of the courts and magistrates, but Tshisekedi made it clear that he would not sign into law such bill.

Tshisekedi is also said to be gunning for FCC members, over allegations of corruption, which was committed when Joseph Kabila was in power. 

DRCONGO: BURUNDI SNUBS INVITATION FROM CONGOLESE LEADER TO PARTICIPATE IN A GREAT LAKES MINI-SUMMIT

In a responding letter from Burundi's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of that country said that due to an already scheduled calendar,  it was not possible for President Evariste Ndayishimiye to attend the mini-summit; which would have included the President of Rwanda and Uganda.

Instead they have proposed that a bilateral meeting, at a ministerial level, be held between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  and Burundi. Such meeting will discuss issues relating to security along the shared border; Burundi also wants to talk about economic interests and the management of the coronavirus pandemic at the border posts. 

The letter also praised the excellent and brotherly relations enjoyed by both countries, emphasising Burundi's commitment to maintain such relations.

The DRC President Felix Tshisekedi had sent a letter to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Burundi's Evariste Ndayishimiye, to attend a mini-summit in the Congolese city of Goma, which was to be held between the 09th and 13th of September 2020. 

Relations among these countries have been patchy for decades and is believed to be one of the main causes of the instability and killings in the eastern parts of Congo. 

DRCONGO: LUMUMBA'S DAUGHTER WINS COURT BATTLE FOR THE RETURN OF HER FATHER'S BODY PART

A court in Belgium has ruled in favour of Juliana Lumumba, daughter of Congolese liberation icon Patrice Emery Lumumba, to have her father's remaining tooth be returned to the family.

For years Juliana Lumumba had been leading a campaign to have her father's remains be returned to the land of his ancestors, the Democratic Republic of Congo; she even wrote to the Belgium Monarch, King Philippe I, to facilitate such process.

It's believed that Lumumba's tooth was the only remain left of him after his body was  dismembered and dissolved in acid during an assassination  mission.

The tooth was removed from  Lumumba's body by a policeman who assisted in disposing his body. He than took it to Belgium where his family had kept it for more than half a century

Lumumba was assassinated in January 1961 by members  of America's Central Intelligence Agency, in collaboration with Belgium officials. In  2002 the government of Belgium officially issued an apology for its participation in the assasination

DRCONGO: DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR CIVIL AVIATION SUSPENDED, AFTER AUTHORISING GOOGLE BALLOON TO FLY IN DRC AIRSPACE

The Congolese Transport Ministry has confirmed the suspension of Civil Aviation Director General Jean Tshuimba Mpunga, after an investigation report discovered that he had signed an agreement with US based company Loon LLC , which is also part of Google's parent company, for  one of its invention to be tested in Congolese airspace. 

The high altitude balloon, also known as the Google Balloon, was allowed to float in the stratosphere leading to its engine crash landing in the Congolese town of Buta, Bas Uele Province.

 The Google Balloon was designed to offer internet access to people living in rural and remote parts of the world; it's said to provide one of the most cost effective WiFi connectivity.

 For the Ministry of Transport, due to security and scientific significance, the Civil Aviation Authority should have first gotten the approval of the central government before signing the deal with the US company. 

DRCONGO: ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO TRY AND SETTLE LAND DISPUTE BETWEEN FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA'S WIFE AND THE HABITANTS OF MBOBERO VILLAGE

Last week a delegation had arrived in the village of Mbobero, in the territory of Kabare South Kivu Province, to meet with the local population and find a way to bring to an end a 10 year land dispute, involving former first lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo Olive Lembe Kabila. 

Among the delegates was  Lembe's Chief of Staff Henri Kitenge, and the Administrator of Kabare , Thadee Midero.

The origin of the dispute dates back from 2010 when Mrs Kabila bought  200 hectares of land in the village, for farming purpose.

According to local civil society, the former first lady imposed her own terms and conditions, ordering villagers occupying the purchased land to vacate .

However there was a resistance from certain members of the village, some of whom had owned the land for more than 50 years.

In a film serie produced by journalists Gael Mpoyo and Franck Zongwe, together with human rights activists Jean-Chrisostome Kijana and Fidele Mutchungu, the film script gave an account of how Mrs Kabila used her status to forcefully remove those who had refused to give up their land. The film dubbed "Mbobero:Might Is Always Right" detailed how Olive Lembe was accompanied by security forces, including members of the Presidential Republican Guards, who went on to burn more than 300 houses after chasing away around 2000 of its occupants. 

The producers of the film were later subjected to threats, intimidations and arrests; a situation that was condemned by rights orgarnisation Human Rights Watch.   

But it seemed the violent confrontation never really settled the dispute, as in 2019, under the new leadership of President Felix Tshisekedi, the victims of the Mbobero destruction  made a public call for justice to be served and a return of their land. 

Mrs Olive Lembe Kabila then met with the representatives of the victims and agreed to return 8 hectares of the land to the villagers and give another 9 hectares to a Catholic church. The offer was strongly rejected by the representatives of the victims. Human activist and  civil society leader Jean-Chrisostome Kijana, who now represented the victims, argued that there was no way a 8 hectares land would accommodate families of more than 350 people. 

Under the latest negotiations, according to the Administrator of Kabare Thadee Midero, the former first lady has offered to pay $2000 dollars to each family that owned the disputed land. While some have taken up the offer and signed a Memorundum of Understanding to leave the area, others felt that the amount was little, and that they should be allowed to place their own price. Negotiations are continuing .

DRCONGO: CENTRAL BANK CALLS MYGOLDREV COMPANY A FRAUD AND ASK GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ITS OPERATION

The Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo has red flagged investment company MYGOLDREV, labelling it a pyramid entity that risks scamming Congolese consumers of their hard earned money. The Bank added that MYGOLDREV's regulations are very weak and does not offer protection to its customers in an event that the company default on its financial obligations or stops operation. 

The Central Bank also believes that the  company is exposed to various risks including possibility of money laundering, financing of terrorist groups and cyber attack, resulting in theft of crypto-currencies.

MYGOLDREV has branded itself as a company that invests in gold; however its operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo allows members of the public to deposit their money in the company in return for profit. The deposit starts from as little as $10 going up to $100000, for VIP members. Members are also rewarded for convincing others to join.

It's for this reason the Central Bank has call its operation illegal, as it resembles all the signs of a pyramid scheme, which is not permitted in the country.

 

CONGOLESE PRESIDENT PROPOSES A MINI-SUMMIT WITH RWANDA, BURUNDI AND UGANDA

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has sent an invitation to Rwanda's Paul Kagame, the President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, to attend a mini-summit to be held in the Congolese city of Goma.

 The summit aims to discuss issues relating to security, development, trade and health.

For President Tshisekedi this will be another opportunity in  search for solutions in  ending the tension among the neighbouring countries, which Congo is paying the heaviest price.

Relations between Rwanda and Burundi for example have remained strained ever since Kagame hinted that Bujumbura is offering support to rebel movements wishing to destabilise Rwanda. The rebel movements are said to be based and operating in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Meanwhile Burundi will often blame deadly sporadic attacks on its army base on Rwandan soldiers, who sometimes launch these attacks from Congo.

Similar accusations have also damaged relations between Uganda and Rwanda, with the latter naming the government of President Yoweri Museveni as one of the sponsors of the rebel group led by former Rwandan Army General Kayumba Nyamwasa, which wants to overthrow the Kigali administration. Nyamwasa's forces are also active in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As these rebel movements and foreign forces set up their base in Congo, it has now been up to the Congolese army to disarm them and end their activities, an operation that has proven to be challenging  and has led to the deaths of thousands of Congolese people. 

DRCONGO: LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATING USD650 MILLION DEPOSITED IN SUB-ACCOUNTS PARALLEL TO THAT OF THE CENTRAL BANK

 

The Congolese judicial police have confirmed that they are probing a case in which the sum of USD650 million, belonging to the state, was found held in 52 global sub-accounts which ran parrelel to that of the country's Central Bank. The sub-accounts have since been blocked pending an investigation.

According to Congo's Finance Inspector General Jules Alingete, the country has been loosing billions of dollars worth of revenues as a result of state money being paid into sub-accounts, after it's first channeled through other transit accounts, instead of it being deposited directly into the account of the Central Bank. This type of payment clearing and  settlement system, said the Inspector General, contravenes the financial regulations. 

The statement by the Finance Inspector General comes at a time the Central Bank Governor Deogratias Mutombo, had to answer questions regarding the USD100 million paid by mineral company Mutanda Mining, as an advance tax on profit.

The payment was made in 2015 at the request of the Congolese government, which needed the money to prepare for the upcoming elections. 

Then Finance Minister Henri Yav Mulang, had signed an exemption document allowing the transaction for the funds skip certain financial regulations.

Based on the documents produced by Mutanda Mining, the amount was paid in two installments with a sum of USD20 million directly deposited into the account of the Central Bank, while USD80 million was paid  into the Bank of International Settlement, via UBC bank. 

But somehow the amount never made it to the coffers of the national treasury; and now during his interrogation, Deogratias Mutombo has admitted that the Central Bank never received any parts of the USD100 million.

Investigations are continuing as the administration of  President Felix Tshisekedi is determine to recover the money and hold officials accountable.

DRCONGO: YOUTH MOVEMENT TO GO AHEAD WITH MARCH DEMANDING THE EXPULSION OF RWANDAN AMBASSADOR

The Congolese Citizens Movement for Change (LUCHA) said it will hold its planned protests march on 04 September 2020, calling for  the expulsion of Rwandan Ambassador Vincent Karega from the Democratic Republic of Congo; this despite President Felix Tshisekedi having already held talks with the Ambassador after his controversial tweet.

In late August 2020, Mr Karega had challenged a social media message from Congolese blogger Benjamin Babunga, which remembered the August 24 1998 massacre in the Congolese territory of Kasika South Kivu. Babunga attributed the massacre to Rwandan soldiers who according to him killed more than 1100 innocent civilians and burned villages, while on a 60km journey  between Kilungutwe and Kasika.

The Rwandan Ambassador then disputed the narrative in his tweeter timeline, accusing the author of slander and mounting a propoganda, since he could not provide any evidence to back up his claims.

However the Ambassador's  tweet did not go down well with the Congolese political class, who in return accused him of denying what they dubbed the Congolese genocide.

Given the public outcry, Mr Vincent Karega met with President Felix Tshisekedi and later commended the good bilateral relations enjoyed by both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Karega also ended up deleting his tweet.

 But for some Congolese politicians and civil society movements, the outcome of the meeting between President Tshisekedi  and Karega was simply not enough, LUCHA even went further and accused the Congolese government of treating the Rwandan Ambassador with kids gloves and being indifferent to Karega's revisionist attitude on Congolese atrocities.

 It's a similar sentiment shared by opposition party leader Martin Fayulu who described the tweet by Vincent Karega as part of a systematic denial of the Congolese genocide. For Fayulu this was unacceptable and that any Congolese who is complicit to such denialism should be tried for treason

DRCONGO: FORMER PRIME MINISTER MATATA MPONYO APPROACHES THE INSPECTOR FOR FINANCE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR HIS NAME OVER ALLEGATIONS OF MASSIVE CORRUPTION

The former Prime Minister has written to the Finance Inspector General Jules Alingete expressing his full support and cooperation into the investigation on the collapse of the Bukanga Lonzo Agro-Industrial  development project.

The project was launched in 2014, with much fanfare, at the time Matata Mponyo was Congolese Prime Minister. It was expected that once the 80000 hectares farming project was completed it would have provided solution to the challenge of food security in the capital Kinshasa. 

But six years later since its launch this vision is yet to materialise. 

Matata Mponyo continued to claim his innocence insisting that he was not in charge of  managing the project and it was instead a South African company known as Africom Commodities. He further argued that when he was the head of  government, the state disbursed USD92 million to kick- start the agro-food  project in the Province of Kwango. Till today no one knows what happened to that amount, says Mponyo.

In response the South African company had placed the blame on the Congolese government, accusing it of failing to fulfill the financial obligation to complete the project, hence its stoppage in 2016. Africom Commodities has since taken the Congolese government to court over unpaid expense.

Meanwhile public pressure had continued to mount for those responsible for the project to be held accountable.

The matter was even brought to greater attention after the election of new President Felix Tshisekedi in December 2018, which ushered in a new administration.

In his 30th June speech to mark 60 years of the Democratic Republic of Congo Independence, Felix did promise to pursue those who were in charge of the Bukanga Lonzo project.

Just last week current Prime Minister Sylvester Ilunga Ilukamba visited the site of Bukanga Lonzo in an effort to revive the project, what he discovered was tractors with engines removed from it and  unused chemical fertilizers. In his cabinet report he painted a very sad picture, which had further cast a spotlight on Matata Mponyo, prompting him to approach the Inspector General for Finance.

DRCONGO: RADJA KULA, THE MAN WHO CREATED SOME OF GREATEST DANCE MOVES IN CONGOLESE MUSIC HAS DIED, FAILING TO CLAIM HIS DUES FROM SINGER KOFFI OLOMIDE

An extremely talented dancer and choreographer, Radja Kula had established his music band Station Japana. It was through this band that he went on to unleash his creative and introduced some of the most captivating dance moves that came to popularised Congolese music.

While Radja's dance invention were rocking in clubs and other entertainment venues, especially in the mid nineties when Congolese music  captured the heart of  global audience, the name Radja Kula was seldom heard of in the music circle.

 It happened that his work was being exported by his band members who would ditch him for  popular and more lucrative music groups. As these members left so too did they take with them some of the dance moves they had learned from Radja.

In an interview conducted to pay tribute to Radja Kula, one of his former dancers Nono Ba Diamant recalled how her performance of  Radja Kula's dance moves during a test session, secured her a spot in the country's most famous and lucrative band , Quartier Latin,  owned by singer and composer  Koffi Olomide.

 According to Nono, during the test performance she would echo lyrics sung by one of the other members from Raja Kula's Station Japan band, so much that Koffi was left impressed and ended up recruiting the band member, known as Sonomo.

The presence of Nono Ba Diamant and Sonomo in Quartier Latin went on to showcased and popularise many of Radja Kula's dance creations

According to Nono Ba Diamant, the success of Koffi's 1996 album V12 (which included the famous hit Andrada) and the album that followed after that  "Ultimatum"  ought to be credited to Rodja Kula, as majority of the dance moves and some lyrics in those albums were taken from him.

Rodja Kula later made this known after he blasted Koffi Olomide during a television interview. He claimed that the Ndombolo hit maker had promised him some kind of compensation after he had personally confronted him about producing and making money from his creative work. But even in his last hours on earth Koffi Olomide failed to fulfill such promise.

What had further angered Radja Kula about Koffi is that the singer had benefited the most from his talent yet could not offer him even a minimum, while other artists such as Werrason and JB Mpiana had reached out to Radja. There were also among the artists who had made great hits by  coping dance steps and lyrics from Station Japana.

Radja Kula died on the 19th of August 2020 in Nairobi Kenya, where he had recently joined his son Evala Mbuta, who also happens to  be an artist.

DRCONGO: GOVERNMENT ONLY GENERATED 26.6% OF FORCAST REVENUE, RECORDING A DEFICIT OF AROUND USD136 MILLION

Based on information from the country's Central Bank, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo only managed to  mobilise 4575 billion fc (almost USD2.2 billion) of the 17225 billion fc (USD8.6 billion) it had planned, making up 26.6% of total revenue collected between January and August 2020.

Meanwhile  expenditure by government during that same period came to 4837 billion fc (around USD2.4 billion), resulting in a budget deficit of 272 billion fc (USD136 million). On the positive side though, the deficit had decreased when compared to the USD168 million previously recorded

The largest portion of expenditure ,USD1.4 billion, went to settling civil servants salaries, which accounted for more than 60% of expenditure.
Operating costs of government institutions also consumed a bigger sum, taking  USD255 million from the budget.

As far as borrowing is concern , government had used 28.1% (USD 113 million) of its credit facility between January and August 2020, whose annual credit line was set at USD 402 million.


Among the major contributors to the revenue generated by the state between January and August 2020, was the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), injected USD 941 million  (30.8%) to the national coffers. The General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) managed to mobilised USD546 million; with another USD362 million coming from the Directorate of Administrative and State Revenue (DGRAD). An additional USD48 million came from the country's oil  production.

Despite the low revenue generated, local economists have commended the government's macroeconomic management structure and the monetary policy applied by the Central Bank, which eased expenditure and reduced budget deficit.

The coronavirus pandemic had impacted negatively on the Congolese economy, that relies heavily on mineral export.

RENOWNED CONGOLESE WRESTLER, MWIMBA TEXAS, DIES AT THE AGE OF 53

Mwimba was a source of inspiration for people living with albinism.
 One of the greatest sportsman to fly the Congolese flag, Mwimba went on to wrestle in  more than 650 fights without suffering a single loss.

Through his foundation, Mwimba Texas Foundation (launched in 1998), the former wrestler  led the fight against discrimination and misconception directed at people living with albinism. He also worked to eradicate the phenomenon belief that a wrestling fight is won by casting a spell on the opponent


According to his son, Mwimba had been sick for quite some time before taking his last breath at a hospital in  Kinshasa, on Sunday 30 August 2020

DRCONGO: PRESIDENT FELIX TSHISEKEDI THREATENS ACTION AGAINST MINING COMPANIES WHO ARE YET TO RETURN $1.5 BILLION TO THE COUNTRY

According to the Congolese mining charter (article 269) , mining companies operating in the country are obliged to deposit 60% of their export earnings into a Congolese held account.
However since June 2019 some companies have failed to comply with this regulation, costing the Congolese government around US$1.5 billion , the President denounced.

President Felix Tshisekedi has since instructed the Central Bank and the General Directorate of Imports (DGRD) to sanction and apply  stiff penalties on  companies who do not settle their dues within 15 days.

Tshisekedi, who was elected in December 2018, has been reluctant to review the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining code, which  some multinational companies believe is detering even much bigger investment.
 The current mining code was introduced by former President Joseph Kabila with the aim of increasing loyalty fees and  provide greater earnings and benefits to the government and the Congolese people.

Under the code mining companies are also expected to pay 50% tax on excess profit. Another sticking point is that companies will need to secure  at least 40% funding before venturing into a new project; and this amount should not be financed through debt.

DEFIANT CONGOLESE DOCTOR CONTINUES TO CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF MASSACRE COMMITTED IN HIS COUNTRY

Nobel Laureate and renowned doctor, Denis Mukwege, has made another public call for justice to be served for the victims of war crimes committed particularly in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This comes as Dr Mukwege and  his organisation, The Panzi Foundation, are  commemorating the horrific event of the August 24 1998 Kasika  massacre.

The massacre, which according to the doctor, is well documented in a United Nations report , saw rebel soldiers from the ANC/ APR movement kill more than a 1000 civilians. The victims included children and  women, who were first subjected to torture and rape before being brutally murdered. The incident took place in the village of Kalama, Kilungutwe and Kasika; located 108kg from the South Kivu Provincial capital of Bukavu.

Dr Mukwege expressed his disbelief that 22 years after the unimaginable man inflicted horror, the perpetrators continue to walk freely.
For the doctor this kind of impunity is what has contributed to the cycle of violence that has plagued  eastern Congo over the decades.

Dr Denis Mukwege again insisted on the implementation of the recommendation tabled by the United Nations report, which details the massacre of Kasika. According to him this will act as a deterrent for  those fuelling the violence in the region and prevent further atrocities

The call by the doctor can be seen as a sign of defiant after he began receiving death threats when he initially requested for the re-tabling of the United Nations mapping report on Congo.

Last week, Physicians for Human Rights , an American rights organisation, accused former Rwandan defense minister James Kabarebe for making a threat on the doctor's life when he spoke ill of him on a Rwandan television channel.

The United Nations report had also named Rwanda as the country that had countless times  sponsored rebel groups in Congo.

FORMER CONGOLESE VICE PRESIDENT INSISTS ON ELECTORAL REFORMS

In a written statement former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba said that electoral reforms in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was not an option.

This message was conveyed by the Secretary General of his party Eve Bazaiba, during an organised high level political forum under the theme "Efficient Electoral Reform in the DRC" , held in Kinshasa.

According to Jean-Pierre Bemba, implementing electoral reforms was the main condition for the country's revival , the restoration of confidence among the population and for Congo to regain its position at the Concert of Nations.

Bemba further argued that, in today's era Congo should no longer be debating about holding free, fair and transparent elections; and instead the focus should have moved towards  finding  solutions on how to emerge the country so that it's on track to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.

The forum which was orgarnised by the Africa-Caribbean Political Support Center, based at the University of Liege (Belgium), received a backlash from major political parties in Kinshasa.
 The political party  of former President Joseph Kabila, which still holds strong influence with their Parliamentary majority ,  refused to recognised such  forum being  discussed outside the institutions of the state, calling it a joke.

Even UDPS , the political party of current Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, snubbed the 5 days event.

DRCONGO: PRESIDENCY LIED ABOUT EXPENDITURE

According to communication from the office of President Felix Tshisekedi, the Presidency spent USD10 million for the month of July 2020. The amount formed part of the 26% the Presidency had already used, out of the USD200 million budget allocation for the financial year, the communication further elaborated.

However as these figures were being released and distributed across the media, the General Directorate of Budget Policies and Programming (the institution that oversees and monitors expenditures across all state institutions) quickly came out with its own report, which clearly contradicted the information provided by the Presidency.

According to the General Directorate of Budget Policies and Programming (PEB) , for the financial year 2020, the President's budget allocation was USD152,8 million - at an exchange rate of 2000 Congolese franc.
Out of that amount the Presidency had instead utilised USD17,3 million for the month of July 2020, which was more than  triple the expenditure amount allocated for that month. This despite the Presidency's claim that it had not exceeded its budget allocation for that period.

 The Ministry of Budget had set aside around USD15 million for the Presidency for the month of July, August and September 2020, putting a cap of USD5 million on monthly expenditures. But it seems the funds was depleted in just a month.

While communication from the Presidency claimed that so far the office of the President of the Republic has spent  USD56 million of its budget allocation, the PEB puts this figure at USD81 million. This is 53% of the Presidential budget spent from January to July 2020, and not 26% as mentioned earlier.

The information given by the General Directorate of Budget Policies and Programming is supported with documents from expenditure chain, including authorisation and transfer of payments.

The budget allocation for the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo is determined through a treasury plan drawn by the Minister of Finance. The funds made available by the Finance ministry will then enable the Ministry of Budget, through the budget commitment plan, to calculate how much it will be able to allocate for the President's expenses.

KINSHASA: EX CHIEF OF STAFF FOR PRESIDENT FELIX TSHISEKEDI, TRANSFERRED FROM PRISON TO HOSPITAL, AMIDST CALLS FOR HIS RELEASE

Vital Kamerhe was rushed to a local hospital in Kinshasa, late on Sunday, after his health situation deteriorated on the day. It's unclear what the former Chief of Staff was suffering from, but according to relatives his condition was critical. Rumours of him having catched the coronavirus remains unfounded as no reliable source has confirmed such revelation.

Kamerhe was taken from Kinshasa's Central Makala Prison where he was serving a 20 year prison sentence for embezzling millions of dollars (usd) disbursed for the development of social houses for the military and police.

 His lawyers have in multiple occasions submitted applications to have him released on health grounds, however this has been rejected by the court. Next month the Appeal Court of Gombe in Kinshasa is expected to hear an application challenging Kamerhe's 20 years prison sentence and demanding his immediate release.

DRCONGO: BORDER OFFICIALS SEIZE 585,5 KG OF COLTAN DESTINED FOR RWANDA

On Friday 21 August 2020, customs officials in the Congolese border city of Goma confiscated  585,5kg of coltan illegally destined for neighbouring Rwanda.

 Improved surveillance at Grand Barrier border post, which includes the  installations of modern scanners,  made it possible   for officials to locate the precious metal stashed in sacs of 22 .

Apart from the upgrade in surveillance equipments, the performance of service at the border has increased significantly, tightening  control over the transportation and passage of goods.

For the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in the Province of North Kivu, the mineral  bust was as a result of commitment made by its officials to prevent smugglers from depriving the Congolese government of its resources, which also tends  to empoverished the Congolese people.

Last week a similar bust was made at the same port of entry with 1200 kg of coltan found hidden in an oil tank. The tank was also said to be destined for Rwanda.

Some of Congo's coltans are sourced from mines controlled by militia groups; and countless reports from international organisations have previously listed Rwanda as the gateway for channelling these conflict minerals to the global market.

HUNDREDS GATHER AT KINSHASA'S POPULAR BOULEVARD TO ASK FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION FOR THE RELEASE OF FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF VITAL KAMERHE

Kinshasa's famous Triomphal Boulevard was crowded with members of the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), who came together to conduct a prayer session and  ask for divine intervention for the release of their leader and President Felix Tshisekedi's former Chief of Staff, Vital Kamerhe.

Kamerhe was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty in the corruption trial of USD57 million, meant for the construction of social houses for the Congolese army and  police.

Leading the prayer session was Kamerhe's wife Amida Shatur, who according to court papers largely benefited from the funds Kamerhe is believed to have embezzled.

Several attempts by Kamerhe's lawyer to seek his immediate release has failed, as the court refuses to grant such request.

Some senior members of  UNC attending the prayer meeting, continue to proclaim the innocence of their leader and believed that this will be proven through divine justice. 

After Kamerhe was  sentenced, rights organisation Human Right Watch, warned that if other corrupt politicians were not prosecuted then Kamerhe's case will always be viewed as an act of political settlement.

According to an agreement signed between Felix Tshisekedi's UDPS and Kamerhe's UNC, Tshisekedi was to step down and support Kamerhe's 2023 Presidential  ambition. However with Kamerhe in prison, the agreement no longer seems to hold.

AMERICAN RIGHTS GROUP CLAIMS CONGOLESE DOCTOR AND NOBEL LAUREATE, DENIS MUKWEGE, SUBJECTED TO THREATS BY SENIOR RWANDAN OFFICIAL

 

Physicians for Human Right, an American led rights organisation, has denounced a recent comment made by former Rwandan Defense Minister James Kabarebe on Congolese doctor and Nobel Laureate Denis Mukwege , labelling it as a threat made on the doctor's life.

Kabarebe was quoted on a Rwandan television channel saying that, Dr Mukwege was being used by some organisations to run a propoganda on the deaths of six million Congolese people when evidence of such atrocities did not exist.

The comment was made at a time when the doctor had raised serious concerns surrounding his safety and that of his family. Since July 2020, the doctor has been receiving death threats messages from anonymous sources, and there have been online campaigns to discredit his name.

According to  Dr Mukwege threats to his life began after he once again called for the re-mapping of the United Nations report, which recognised the war and atrocities that took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1993 and 2003, and asked for investigation and prosecutions of the perpetrators of the violence. 

There have been countless reports, including that from the United Nations' panel of experts, accussing Rwanda of having played a major role in fuelling the long standing conflict in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

James Kabarebe, as a senior Rwandan army officer, is said to have commanded various military offensives in Congo and ordered the massacre of innocent civilians.

The American human rights organisation has called on the United Nations mission in Congo to guarantee the protection of the doctor.

ZAMBIAN TROOPS CONTINUE TO OCCUPY CONGOLESE TERRITORY DESPITE SADC RULING

 

According to authorities in the Congolese province of Tanganyika, the Zambian army continues to occupy the locality of Kapanga in the territory of Moba. 

An earlier agreement from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had recommended that Zambia withdraw its troops from the occupied Congolese territories in Tanganyika and Haut-Katanga, this after the Congolese government had sought the assistant of SADC to mediate in the border conflict between the two neighbours.

After the SADC decision was made some Congolese soldiers tried retake the occupied territories but were held captive by the Zambian army. 

 On Friday 14 August 2020, the Congolese delegation pulled out from the work of Zambia-DRC Defense and Security Committee, voicing dissatisfaction with the final report tabled by the group of experts.

The Congolese team wanted the report to acknowledge that Zambia violated the border demarcation  in Kibanga and Kalubamba, and its troops continues to occupy the Congolese locality of Kapanga.

In May 2020,  gun battle erupted between the Zambian and Congolese army in Kalubamba with each side recording a single fatality. 

 

DRCONGO: HEALTH MINISTER ASKED TO JUSTIFY HOW NEARLY USD4 MILLION CORONAVIRUS FUND HAD BEEN SPENT

 

Congolese Health Minister Eteni Longondo has been asked to explained how his department spent almost USD4 million released by the central government, as part of the emergency funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. 

The request was made by the Minister of Finance Sele Yalaghuli , after his colleague failed to submit  documents providing details of how he used the money allocated to him, to deal with the pandemic. According to the Finance Minister, part of the requirements when  emergency funds are disbursed is for the receiving department to account for such funds by providing details on how it was used. 

For months allegations of corruption and mismanagement have been directed at Health Minister Eteni Longondo. He has been accused of  colluding with other senior government officials and establishing structures in which they can personally benefit from the pandemic funds. 

 Earlier on, Longondo's own deputy, Albert Mpeti, had publicly denounce the minister's actions of signing off disbursements of large sum of money without his input or involvement. 

The country's coronavirus recovery team, led by doctor Jeans- Jacques Muyembe, have also previously complained about lack of funding, with health workers going on for months without receiving their pay check. This despite funds having been allocated.

But it seems the government is ready to get to the bottom of the matter. Under the instruction of President Felix Tshisekedi, the Inspector General for Finance has launched a full investigation into the handling of the coronavirus funds. According to the Inspector General Jules Alingete, his initial report has already found evidence of gross mismanagement, and some files have been handed over to the prosecuting authorities. 

In June 2020 , the Congolese government had made available USD27 million, through different entities and departments, to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

DRCONGO: NEW FINANCE INSPECTOR GENERAL PROMISE TO ACT TOUGH ON CORRUPTION

The new Finance Inspector General Jules Alingeta, who took office on Tuesday 07 2020, made a commitment to accompany the Head of State in fulfilling his vision of establishing good governance and the rule of law.

 Alingeta told the media that under his leadership he intends to restore the integrity of the Finance Inspector Directorate, and will not compromise when it comes to dealing with corruption. As a matter of urgency an effective internal control system will be established to ensure that compliance with function procedures.
The Finance Inspector General branded his institution a specialised elite unit, whose 33 years experience couldn't be more crucial at a time when the Democratic Republic of Congo has a President who is genuinely committed to establishing the rule of law.

The  Finance Inspector General plans to introduce reforms in the administration and organisation of the public institution, which had been based on the rules formulated in 1987.
The public institution will also hire about 120 new finance inspectors  so that it can improve the performance of its mandate. According to Jules Alingeta the last finance inspectors were hired in 1991.

The Finance Inspector Directorate was established to monitor and control the financial operation of the state, both in expenditure and revenue collections

CONGOLESE NATIONALS BANNED FROM ENTERING THE EU SCHENGEN AREA

 This was the statement from European Union ambassador to the country, Jean-Marc Chataignier.
 According to the Ambassador the decision was taken by the European Union Council, and had been based on health reasons, related to the coronavirus outbreak. The Council took into consideration among other things, the number of covid19  infections and the availability of reliable information regarding the number of tests conducted.

 The ban only applied to non essential travellers, and will continually be updated.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joins countries such as United States and Brazil whose citizens are prohibited from accessing the Schengen territory.

As of July 7 2020, the DRC had 7660 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 3236 recoveries and 182 deaths. The country's health minister Eteni Longondo, has been criticised for poorly managing the response led efforts, with allegations of embezzlement of the coronavirus funds directed at his department.

DRCONGO: EX REBEL MOVEMENTS THREATEN TO TAKE UP ARMS AFTER SPENDING MONTHS WITHOUT ANY FORM OF ASSISTANCE.

The rebel movements, which have surrendered about a 1000 of its fighters and hundreds of ammunition to the Congolese military, told President Felix Tshisekedi to address their concerns otherwise they will have no choice but to return to the bush.

The two rebel group, AFRC and UPDC, use to operate in the territory of Masisi and Rutshuru, in the North Kivu Province. They had heeded the call by Tshisekedi for all rebel movements to lay down their weapons since a new government was now in charge.
However six months  later after accepting the call, the rebels now find  themselves in a state of despair and without any form of assistance from government. They claimed that the demobilisation process has failed, which lives an appetite to take up arms.

The rebels' grievances is nothing unusual as corruption and financial mismanagement within the Congolese defense force remains rampant. Often top Generals are accused of misappropriating funds disbursed by the central government to implement military programmes, such as that of demobilisation, and pay soldiers' salaries. According to experts, this is one of the main reasons the Congolese government has failed to end the violence in the eastern parts of the country.

DRCONGO HEALTH MINISTER ACCUSED OF SELF ENRICHMENT AMIDST PROTEST BY COVID19 MEDICAL STAFF

A written Parliamentary question was sent to the Congolese Heath Minister, Eteni Longondo , to answer to allegations that he has acquired material goods worth a value that exceeds his income, this after being appointed as a minister.

 The question was tabled after health workers handling the coronavirus pandemic went on strike, demanding their three months salary, which was in arrears.

The minister is also expected to explain the  financial mismanagement in his department, and the introduction of a kickback policy in the management of the coronavirus funds.

 Minister Longondo is yet to provide a full response to the questions, however he spoke on the sideline with regards to the non payment of the Covid19 staff.
 According to him, the delay in the payment is as a result of him not receiving the list of the medical staff. He had asked the Technical Secretariat of the coronavirus response team, about two months ago, to submit a list with the names of medical staff  working in the team, but only received it recently.

The Minister has assured the staff that the Office of the Prime Minister is handling the matter, and they should be receiving their money very soon.

As of 6th July 2020, the Democratic Republic of Congo had 7432 confirm cases of coronavirus and 182 deaths

TSHISEKEDI TO PERSONALLY OVERSEE THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

A communique issued by the office of the Prime Minister has outlined that the President of the Republic, Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, will personally oversee the process of electing the new President of the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and ensure that it's credible from start to finish.

 The decision was taken during the 38th meeting of the Council of Ministers, on July 03 2020.

 The President noted that the controversy surrounding the nomination of the new Electoral Chief, has elevated tensions and runs the risk of destabilising the country.
As the number one guardian responsible for safeguarding state institutions, the President wants to make sure such process is strictly compliant with the rule of law, and that it's  conducted to the appeasement of the national community; the statement reads.

A public outcry had erupted earlier on after it came to attention that the National Assembly had endorsed the election of Ronsard Malonda, by the religious denomination, as the President of the Independent Electoral Commission.  The Parliamentary majority is controlled by members of the Common Front for Congo (FCC), whose moral authority is former President Joseph Kabila.

Those opposing the outcome argued that the endorsement was based on false facts.

KINSHASA: OPPOSITION PARTY TO PROTEST ON 9 JULY AGAINST THE ENDORSEMENT OF MALONDA AS HEAD OF ELECTORAL BODY

Supporters of UDPS, photo by DiasporaRDC

The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) , the most prominent political party in the Democratic Republic of Congo , will hold mass protests on July 09 2020 to denounce the endorsement of Ronsard Malonda as the new President of the country's Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), by the National Assembly.

UDPS member Gecoco Mulumba promising to be on the streets on 09th July

The party wants the National Assembly to reconsider such decision, and rather make a recommendation to civil society movement (which includes the church) to designate 3 candidates, who will  represent the movement in the plenary of the Independent Electoral Commission.

Malonda was voted by members of the religious denomination to become the next President of CENI, a letter was then sent to Parliament to endorse his election

According to UDPS, the process of endorsing Malonda was done through fraudulent means and the Parliamentary majority, The Common Front for Congo (FCC), took a unilateral decision on something that required a national consensus.

The Speaker of Parliament, Jeanine Mabunda, was also criticised for rushing through the process.

Even some church leaders, including the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Cenco), Donatien Nsole, refused to acknowledge the endorsement of Malonda by Parliament. Their argument echoed the same sentiment  that the procedures was based on fraudulent documents.

The reason for such strong objection on the nomination of Ronsard Malonda, across the social spectrum, is because he held a position within CENI and his close relation with the current CENI President, Cornielle Nangaa.

Under Nangaa, the electoral body had lost credibility among the Congolese population due to the fraudulent elections organised in 2018; and there are fears that if individuals from the same electoral team are placed in the leadership position, the next national votes will be no different.

PRESIDENT FELIX TSHISEKEDI TELLS KABILA HE WANTS JUSTICE MINISTER TO RESIGN

During the 38th meeting of the Council of Ministers, President Felix Tshisekedi revealed that he had told former President Joseph Kabila to call on the Justice Minister Tunda Ya Kasenda to resign or else he will fire him; it's also alleged that the Minister was disconnected from the video held meeting.

Joseph Kabila is the moral authority for the Common Front for Congo (FCC), of which the Justice Minister is a member

Tension between President Tshisekedi and his Justice Minister escalated last week after it emerged that Tunda Ya Kasenda had sent a letter to the National Assembly, on behalf of government, confirming that cabinet had approved the proposed amendment to the judicial law be debated in Parliament; only to find that cabinet had never discussed the issue in the first place.

 What further angered Tshisekedi, according to sources, the Minister raised the issue for the proposed amendment  for discussion during a cabinet meeting, knowing very well that he had already submitted the letter of approval to Parliament.

Later that day the Minister was arrested but released the same day, after pressure from the FCC movement.

President Tshisekedi has since vowed not to allow any changes to the current judicial law.

DRCONGO: REFORMS ON THE JUDICIAL LAWS TO BE DEBATED ONLY IN SEPTEMBER

The Congolese National Assembly has delayed the debate on the proposed amendment to the judicial law to September 2020; this is due to the fact that the current parliamentary session is near completion.

Already the Parliament's Political Administrative and Legal Commission has approved the proposed amendment, initiated by Parliamentarians Aubin Minaku and Garry Sakata, for debate in the legislature

Both Minaku and Sakata are hoping that the delay in the debate will provide further opportunity for them to explain to various structures who fear that such law will pose a threat to the independence of the judiciary.

The two members of the Common Front for Congo (FCC) want to see changes on among other things , the law that governs the functions, organisation and competency of the courts; and the law on the function of the Superior Council of the magistrates .

During his telelevised address, to mark 60 years of the country's independence, President Felix Tshisekedi made a strong commitment to prevent any law that will affect the independent of the judiciary.

KINSHASA: PARLIAMENT ENDORSE RONSARD MALONDA AS HEAD OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION, DESPITE OPPOSITION

The National Assembly in the Democratic Republic of Congo has gone ahead and approved the election of Ronsard Malonda as the new President of the country's Independence Electoral Commission (CENI).

Parliament issued a written statement around Wednesday midnight confirming the endorsement, as mandated by Article 12 of the Electoral law.

Malonda was voted by members of the religious denomination, receiving 6 out of the 8 votes.
However the outcome was greeted with  strong opposition from the powerful Catholic Church, as it refused to recognise the credibility of Mr Malonda, and raised questions about the election process.

According to the Catholic Church, Ronsard Malonda was a compromised candidate since he had served as the Technical Secretary during the controversial 2018 General Elections. The Catholic Church together with another popular religious group , the Church of Kimbanguist, also raised concern about the Speaker of the National Assembly meddling in the electoral affairs, which they believed tempered with the transparency and fairness of the process.

Given the opposition from these churches, there are fears that wide protests could erupt across the country, to rally behind the Catholic Church.

Few days back , opposition leader Moise Katumbi, approached the United States diplomatic mission in Kinshasa to pile pressure on the government and block the designation of Malonda; arguing that the country cannot mix old and rotten tomatoes with new ones, if it wanted to produce credible elections.

MOISE KATUMBI: CONGO HAS ONLY KNOWN POOR LEADERSHIP SINCE INDEPENDENCE

The Democratic Republic of Congo has nothing to be proud of 60 years after independence, all thanks to the leadership that has had the opportunity to govern the country after it was decolonised from Belgium.
This was the message from Moise Katumbi, Chairman of  the heroic African football club TP Mazembe.

Katumbi, who is also President of opposition party Esemble (Together), was delivering his message for the country's 60 Years Independence Day celebrations.
According to him, there was not a single sector in society where Congolese people can attest to and take pride in those who have ruled them over years.

He then highlighted almost all the failures that has basically turned the country into a collapsed state; from the lost of territorial sovereignty (as foreign forces continues to occupy certain parts of the country), dilapidated health system, endemic poverty and lack of infrastructural development.

Katumbi also took the opportunity to oppose any attempt to change the current judicial laws, as being proposed by members of the ruling majority in the National Assembly.

But despite providing a gloomy picture, Moise Katumbi proclaimed that he remains confident about the future of the country and called on the population to stay united.

Given his popularity, it's expected that the football Chairman and former Governor, will contest the 2023 Presidential Elections.

The Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated 60 years of independence on the 30th of June 2020.

VIDEO: MORE CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION TO FOLLOW, INCLUDING BUKANGALONZO, FELIX

In a telelevised speech to mark 60 years of the country's  independence, the Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi promised to put an end to impunity, saying that this was at the centre of his strategy to develop the country.

As he made reference to the 100 DAYS corruption trial, which saw his Chief of Staff Vital Kamerhe being sentenced to prison for corruption, the President indicated that other similar trial may follow, as investigation will be conducted into the mismanagement of funds in the agricultural project of Bukangalonzo; and further investigations in the mining sector and infrastructural development projects.

While agreeing to engage in dialogue with other instutions and parties in order to maintain stability in the country, the President also made it clear that no one will be above the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, irrespective of whether they hold majority seats in the National Assembly or form the biggest political party. For many analysts, Tshisekedi was alluding to the coalition movement of the Common Front for Congo(FCC), which controls Parliament, and have been pushing for the introduction of unpopular laws; including that which will lead to judicial reforms.

Meanwhile Tshisekedi also made it clear that he will not accept any law that will act as a pretext to undermine the principles of justice.