Now Katumbi turns to AU

SELF-EXILED Congolese presidential aspiring candidate Moise Katumbi, who has been barred from entering his home country to file his nomination, is appealing to African Union (AU) and other regional bodies to intervene in the matter. Mr Katumbi said in an exclusive interview that the AU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and COMESA should quickly intervene to facilitate his entry into Congo DR to ensure peace, trade and development in the region.

He said if he was not allowed to enter and file his nomination, the situation risked destabilizing trade and development in the region as there might be an outflow of more refugees to neigbhouring countries. Mr Katumbi said his appeal was in line with the many peace agreements on Congo DR by the regional bodies including heads of states. He said the current political situation has seen over 5.7 million citizens live as internal refugees in their own country with millions running away from turmoil allegedly perpetuated by government.

“Mr Kabila should not go round causing problems for the process, because Jean Pierre Biemba is not competition, we are both in the opposition. We are going to get together to see who has a good record of achievement to stand, whether it will be me, or Jean Piere Biemba or Felix Tshikesededi.

“What is important for us is to have change of power peacefully. Everyone must participate and it is not for (Mr) Kabila to point fingers at anybody,” Mr Katumbi said. He accused President Joseph Kabila of being scared of his good record in Congo and that he had tried to bring trumped up charges against him to bar him from filing his nomination. Mr Katumbi said it was obvious that President Kabila was scared of his popularity and potential to be the next DRC president.

He explained that if indeed he had committed a crime, he should have been allowed to enter the country and face the law.