Africa Just another WordPress site
Related Articles
By: Robert Patrick Fati Gakwerere
On the eve of the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the political climate is reaching its peak. Jean-Pierre Bemba, chose the last day of the campaign to deliver explosive accusations against Moïse Katumbi, in an exclusive interview given to Top Congo FM, the country’s main private radio station.
In front of journalist Christian Lukakueno, Bemba did not mince his words, calling Katumbi an inveterate liar. “I know the guy… He’s a liar. He lies everywhere. He lies to everyone. “He systematically lies,” he declares, emphasizing two aspects: the foreign passport and the money.
Bemba accuses Katumbi of applying for a US visa in 2013 with a Zambian passport while holding Italian nationality, he says. He questions Katumbi’s attachment to Congo, saying: “You consider that the Congolese passport has no value in your eyes. You are not Congolese neither in soul, nor in spirit, nor in blood. I challenge him to prove that he knows the national anthem.
Claiming to have no fear of Katumbi despite the latter’s mobilization during the campaign, the MLC leader describes him as a manipulator who doctored the images of his rallies.
The accusations take a darker turn when the defense minister accuses Katumbi of corruption, mentioning large sums of money distributed to politicians.
Bemba goes so far as to claim that Katumbi is ready to do anything to gain power, asserting: “He wants to establish the mafia at the top of the DRC as he did in Katanga, and that is not possible. This gentleman is capable of walking on corpses for his personal interests.
The allegations take an international turn when Bemba accuses Katumbi of being the agent of Rwanda, revealing, he says, contacts between Salomon Idi Kalonda, right-hand man of Moise Katumbi today in prison, and the M23. Bemba also claims to have intelligence indicating that Katumbi plans to hack the CENI computer system, claiming to have evidence of attempts to attack the electoral center site.
Bemba’s threat to Katumbi becomes explicit: “He knows he is going to lose the elections, but he is going to fabricate results that he is going to have published. If he doesn’t succeed, they will try to set the country on fire. We will not let him destroy this country for his mafia ambitions. We will use public force to restore order. A statement which underlines the tense atmosphere on the eve of the election.
