UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
President Kabila's recent crusade against corruption sparks various reactions that feature high in today's local press in Kinshasa. The press goes back over the territorial Administration and comments on the tour of the UN chief of peacekeeping operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno to Eastern DRC.
Referring to the presidential crusade against corruption, LE PHARE recalls that president Joseph Kabila addressed a letter to the presidents of both chambers of the Transition's Parliament on 19 May to ''request parliament's participation in the struggle against corruption which hampers the Government's activities''. A second letter was allegedly addressed to the four Vice-Presidents to ''stigmatise the attitude or actions of some ministers against whom the head of state reportedly gathered evidence of corruption'', says the paper, indicating that the news of the two letters ''came as a bombshell on the political scene where a number of players felt like the sky has fallen on their head and that the ground has given way under their feet''. The paper points out that ''emerging from the first analyses that the lists (of the accused ministers) is indicative of an effort aimed to demonise the components other than that of the Head of State''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS further insists on the selective nature of the list, noting that ''of the dozen ministers targeted, only a few names are cited without referring to any PPRD ministers''. Moreover, the paper does not believe in the existence of such a letter, which it describes as ''real/unreal''. According to the paper, the MPs interviewed at 'palais du peuple' declared that they were not aware of it.
FORUM DES AS indicates that after verifications at different levels, ''it appears that it is a sad montage by a vice-president's services which has something personal against the named government officials''.
Two of the listed ministers have already reacted against the charges of corruptions against them through the press: ministers José Endundo (Public Work), and Diomi Ndongala (Mines); they would have threatened to ''disclose the truth'', according to LE POTENTIEL. The paper publishes Endundo's reaction refusing to be ''the scapegoat for the sake of it'', indicating that it is out of the question ''to throw some of us to the lions and cover up others''. He further warns ''if they intend to tarnish people's good names, all of us will do the same.'' Minister Diomi Ndongola whose reaction is conveyed by his communication adviser was through LE POTENTIEL denies being implicated in any corruption nor embezzlement and declares that ''he was ready to disclose the whole truth about the management of the Congolese mining sector, including the difficulties faced, not to mention all the mafia in the mining area uncovered with conclusive proof''.
Following president Kabila's letter to the presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly, the DRC Public Prosecutor's office having taken up the dossier declared that ''the dossier falls within its competence and therefore set in motion the existing legal mechanisms to investigate the case and punish those who committed the corruption and misappropriation of the public funds'' as a result of which, '' we should expect a witch-hunt in government circles in the next few days of at least ten ministers reportedly implicated in such criminal acts'', says LE PALMARES.
Similarly, while the governors are being sworn in, clashes are reported within the components, indicates L'AVENIR. The paper adds that the voids created in the Government by the putting in place of the Territorial Administration absolutely calls for new nominations. So, ''it is now a propitious occasion for each and everyone to engage in the battle and settling of scores'', the paper writes further indicating that necessary arrangements were made so that the governors' swearing-in takes place this Wednesday.
With regard to power-sharing in public firms, security and diplomacy, LE PALMARES points out RCD's greediness in ''insisting on having the best part and leaving crumps to others''. The paper mentions a letter from the former rebel movement to CIAT members in which RCD '' expects too much and is determined to stall the process''. According to the paper, RCD reportedly demanded to have the control of government-owned firms such as BCC, Anr, Onatra, Rva, Snel, Ofida etc'
After Kinshasa, Kampala, Jean-Marie Guéhenno visited Bukavu before travelling to Kigali, L'OBSERVATEUR reports. In Bukavu, says the paper, the UN chief of Peacekeeping operations highlighted that armed groups continue being an obstacle to the peace in the Eastern DRC. ''This issue that threatens peace in that part of the country and sour relations between Rwanda and the DRC should be sorted out'', he declared.
Earlier, Mr. Guéhenno was in Ituri where he expressed hope to see the Congolese government enhance its presence, LE POTENTIEL indicates. '' The more the government will make efforts to enhance its presence, the better the situation will be'', Mr. Guéhenno underscored, echoed by this paper.
LA REFERENCE PLUS further insists on the selective nature of the list, noting that ''of the dozen ministers targeted, only a few names are cited without referring to any PPRD ministers''. Moreover, the paper does not believe in the existence of such a letter, which it describes as ''real/unreal''. According to the paper, the MPs interviewed at 'palais du peuple' declared that they were not aware of it.
FORUM DES AS indicates that after verifications at different levels, ''it appears that it is a sad montage by a vice-president's services which has something personal against the named government officials''.
Two of the listed ministers have already reacted against the charges of corruptions against them through the press: ministers José Endundo (Public Work), and Diomi Ndongala (Mines); they would have threatened to ''disclose the truth'', according to LE POTENTIEL. The paper publishes Endundo's reaction refusing to be ''the scapegoat for the sake of it'', indicating that it is out of the question ''to throw some of us to the lions and cover up others''. He further warns ''if they intend to tarnish people's good names, all of us will do the same.'' Minister Diomi Ndongola whose reaction is conveyed by his communication adviser was through LE POTENTIEL denies being implicated in any corruption nor embezzlement and declares that ''he was ready to disclose the whole truth about the management of the Congolese mining sector, including the difficulties faced, not to mention all the mafia in the mining area uncovered with conclusive proof''.
Following president Kabila's letter to the presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly, the DRC Public Prosecutor's office having taken up the dossier declared that ''the dossier falls within its competence and therefore set in motion the existing legal mechanisms to investigate the case and punish those who committed the corruption and misappropriation of the public funds'' as a result of which, '' we should expect a witch-hunt in government circles in the next few days of at least ten ministers reportedly implicated in such criminal acts'', says LE PALMARES.
Similarly, while the governors are being sworn in, clashes are reported within the components, indicates L'AVENIR. The paper adds that the voids created in the Government by the putting in place of the Territorial Administration absolutely calls for new nominations. So, ''it is now a propitious occasion for each and everyone to engage in the battle and settling of scores'', the paper writes further indicating that necessary arrangements were made so that the governors' swearing-in takes place this Wednesday.
With regard to power-sharing in public firms, security and diplomacy, LE PALMARES points out RCD's greediness in ''insisting on having the best part and leaving crumps to others''. The paper mentions a letter from the former rebel movement to CIAT members in which RCD '' expects too much and is determined to stall the process''. According to the paper, RCD reportedly demanded to have the control of government-owned firms such as BCC, Anr, Onatra, Rva, Snel, Ofida etc'
After Kinshasa, Kampala, Jean-Marie Guéhenno visited Bukavu before travelling to Kigali, L'OBSERVATEUR reports. In Bukavu, says the paper, the UN chief of Peacekeeping operations highlighted that armed groups continue being an obstacle to the peace in the Eastern DRC. ''This issue that threatens peace in that part of the country and sour relations between Rwanda and the DRC should be sorted out'', he declared.
Earlier, Mr. Guéhenno was in Ituri where he expressed hope to see the Congolese government enhance its presence, LE POTENTIEL indicates. '' The more the government will make efforts to enhance its presence, the better the situation will be'', Mr. Guéhenno underscored, echoed by this paper.
