DRC: four points on the agenda of the head of state on the fight against corruption

The head of state, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi has announced to the Congolese people his four firm commitments to strengthen the fight against corruption in the DRC. This scourge has diversified across all sectors to the point of being standardized, thereby undermining the country’s development efforts.

Primo. To uphold the rule of law. This measure includes respect for the law at all levels and by all. In this regard, the Head of State announced mobilize all the appropriate and consistent means to make available to Justice to enable him to do his job well.

« I appeal to all the personnel of the judiciary of the country, especially to the Magistrates who must, in all circumstances, render fair and equitable justice without giving in to the temptation of corruption, » he said.

Second. Engage a preventive and repressive approach in the fight against corruption in the DRC. Indeed, in the prevention component, Félix Tshisekesi wants to lead actions in the sense of sensitizing and moralizing the population on the misdeeds of corruption and antisocial acts that are close to him for the socio-economic development of the country.

To him to specify: « these actions of sensitization will particularly target the families, basic cells of the society and all the social sectors. »

As for the crackdown, the head of state seized the opportunity to send a strong message against the corrupt and corrupt untouchables of yesterday and today: « under my mandate, these
untouchables are called to reconversion by the strict application of the law.  »

Third. Strengthen the legal framework for fighting corruption in the DRC. This action requires, according to him, the revisit of the legal arsenal in this matter and the establishment of other mechanisms and means more adapted to the mutation of the phenomenon of the corruption, with more dissuasive sanctions.

From a legislative point of view, the Head of State intends, in the near future, to sign and deposit the instruments of ratification of the African Union Convention on the prevention and fight against corruption.

This ratification, he stressed, will undoubtedly allow the DRC to recover the assets and the proceeds of the transaction of corruption spread in tax havens to the detriment of the social welfare of the Congolese people.

« In the same vein, I also pledge to be able to solicit and obtain from Parliament, the amendment of the Election Act, with regard to the mode of election of the MLAs, Governors and Senators », insisted Felix Tshisekedi.

Quarto. Consolidate the institutional apparatus of fight against corruption in the DRC.

« I inform you of the creation, shortly, within my Cabinet, of a Specialized Service called Coordination for the Change of Minds, in acronym CCM, which will have among other missions to ensure prevention, awareness, fight against all kinds of antivaleurs, « said the head of state in his speech on the African Day against corruption celebrated on July 11, 2019.

Achieving a generation without corruption is difficult but not impossible. Felix Tshisekedi believes that it is enough to believe and work hand in hand.

To him to conclude: « I strongly believe in the capacity of positive change of the Congolese man. To this end, let’s all combine our efforts, each in its sector of activity, to overcome this scourge of corruption with all the antivaleurs that are close to it. « 

As a reminder, the DRC has made corruption a serious offense punishable by fines and imprisonment (article 149 bis Penal Code Book II). It has adopted a Code of Conduct for State Public Agents (Decree Law 017-2002 of 03 October 2002) and an Observatory of the Code of Professional Ethics (Decree No. 075-2003). of April 03, 2003).

It has ratified a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) dated 2001 for the fight against corruption. Since 2004, our country has a law repressing the laundering of
capital and the financing of terrorism (Law No. 04/016 of 19 July 2004).

In addition, the DRC is a signatory to the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption in 2013.

Eric TSHIKUMA