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DR Congo bishops slam govt over Katumbi blockage

DR Congo bishops slam govt over Katumbi blockage

Democratic Republic Of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Catholic Bishops Conference (CENCO) has broken its silence on the case of exiled presidential aspirant Moise Katumbi who has been refused entry into the country.

In an eight-point release issued on Monday August 6, 2018; the church deplored what it said was interference of the government in blocking the former Katanga province governor from returning to the country.

“The Congolese Bishops’ Conference (Cenco) strongly urges the Congolese authorities to reconsider their decision by letting Moïse Katumbi enter the country and apply as any other candidate,”

“Such segregationist treatment is not justified and can unnecessarily lead to unfortunate consequences that must be avoided. Such a refusal in many ways resembles a denial of identity, which no human society can tolerate,” the CENCO statement added.

The statement signed by President and vice-president of CENCO said it was for the authorities to allow Katumbi back and for the electoral body, CENI, to clear him as a candidate to run for the upcoming polls.

The presidential aspirant exiled since 2016 is seeking to return to the country to file his candidature for polls slated for December this year. He has failed to get air clearance as well as entry through the borders.

Katumbi initially applied to the aviation authorities to fly into Lubumbashi but was not granted access. His team tried entering via the common border with Zambia but it was sealed off late last week.

He faces a three-year sentence for allegedly selling property that did not belong to him, he has severally described the sentence and other charges leveled against him as politically motivated. He is also battling a claim of dual citizenship, which disqualifies him from contesting for president.

Security forces on Monday battled pro-Katumbi supporters in the south-eastern city of Lubumbashi. The forces were deployed in a bid to halt several simultaneous protests from different parts of the city – which is his stronghold and also capital of the Upper-Katanga province of which Katumbi was once governor.

The opposition coalition led by Katumbi, “Ensemble Pour le Changement” or Together for Change had called on their supporters to march today in Lubumbashi, to demand for his return.

The deadline for submission of presidential candidacy papers expires on August 8, 2018. Other candidates to have filed are ex-veep Jean Pierre Bemba and Felix Tshisekedi, son of late opposition chief.

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