In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it is imbroglio during the recent election within Lamuka, the largest opposition platform. As of now, two founding members claim to be “coordinators”.
as reported from Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
In a coalition with President Félix Tshisekedi since the end of 2020, Moïse Katumbi said on Saturday, April 10, taking over the leadership of Lamuka, a coalition led by Martin Fayulu who was still opposed to Félix Tshisekedi and Joseph Kabila. The latter has installed his ally, former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, at the helm of the platform for the next three months.
This confusion weakens the platform that claimed victory in the last elections while the country is undergoing a crucial period in the preparations for the 2023 polls.
No more agreement
The two camps no longer agreed since Felix Tshisekedi came to power. The former governor of Katanga, Moïse Katumbi, advocated Republican opposition and participation in institutions and moved further away from Martin Fayulu and Adolphe Muzito every day. For six months, the four founding members of Lamuka no longer formally met.
The shortage was completed at the end of 2020, when Moïse Katumbi and former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba joined forces with Félix Tshisekedi to expel the pro-Kabila from the head of the department before joining his new coalition, the Holy Union.
For Martin Fayulu, this is a step too far. Moïse Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba were formally allied with the president, excluding themselves from Lamuka. Their parties should join the new government, but for Moise Katumbi it is not a question of renouncing Lamuka.
He announced in a press release on Saturday that he would “automatically” take the lead in this coalition as part of the rotating coordination at the end of Martin Fayulu’s term.
Lamuka is not “a private matter by Martin Fayulu”
Salomon Kalonda, Katumbi’s chief adviser, believes that this tradition respects the hitherto established order. For RFI, he explains that Lamuka is not “a private fact for Martin Fayulu” and that no text ranks this platform, the election remnant or in the opposition, much less in the ruling camp.
Lamuka therefore now has two coordinators since the former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito also took over the coalition from his ally Martin Fayulu. The two have promised to present a reform of the law on identification and registration of voters and are also preparing a draft timetable for elections 2023.
Also read Democratic Republic of Congo: how Lamuka’s coalition tore apart
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