Chief of Staff for President Felix Tshisekedi (photo by DigitalCongo)
The date has been set for 11 May 2020 on which Vital Kamerhe , the Chief of Staff for President Felix Tshisekedi , will stand trial on corruption charges, involving the embezzlement of funds meant for development projects across the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The trial will mark a turning point for the country's political landscape, with this being the first time that a high ranking and politically connected public servant is dragged before the court to answer questions on corruption allegations.
Kamerhe, who has been languishing in Kinshasa's infamous Makala Central Prison after initially being summoned at Matete Office of the Attorney General, is accused of awarding government contracts to fictitious companies through which state money have been looted. He's expected to account for among others, a sum of more than $48 million allocated for the construction of social houses for military personnel; Kamerhe is also linked to the misappropriation of $10 million released by government to purchase medical supplies, which never materialise.
In his reply, Kamerhe declared his innocence, arguing that all contracts signed between the government and service provider companies was concluded by the previous administration; he further highlighted that it was not the responsibility of the Chief of Staff to monitor the allocation of money paid by the Central Bank to such companies .
Before these latest accusations, Kamerhe's name had appeared in a dossier detailing how $15 million the Congolese government had received from a petroleum company, failed to make its way into government coffers and instead deposited into an unauthorised account.
For millions of Congolese, especially those residing in the capital Kinshasa, the arrest of Kamehre and his due court appearance, offers a glimpse of hope that the culture of impunity is finally coming to an end. Having endured 18 years of corruption and misery under Joseph Kabila, Congolese have been anticipating change after the election of President Felix Tshisekedi, as promised by the incumbent Head of State himself.
When question about the arrest of his Chief of Staff, President Tshisekedi's response has been " allow the justice system do its work."
While Tshisekedi came to Kamerhe's defence when the Chief of Staff was being haunted about the $15 million , he could no longer maintain the same support after the President's 100 DAYS EMERGENCY PROGRAM flopped, due to corruption. It was actually Tshisekedi who initiated an investigation into the management of the 100 DAYS EMERGENCY PROGRAM funds, which led to Kamerhe's arrest
Vital Kamerhe's trial will be closely scrutinised; and with the presence of a vibrant and fearless media society, pressure will be on the judiciary to uphold its independent. Should the trial lead to a successful conviction, more politicians could soon find themselves behind bars, as their names continues to surface in connection with corruption practices. This will no doubt usher in a new dawn for accountability and pave the way for a better future for the country.
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