Pres. Lungu Offers Counsel of DRC Electoral Problems

President Edgar Lungu says the elections in neigbouring Democratic of Congo lack inclusivity urging the leadership to embrace all parties for an acceptable outcome.

And five heads of political parties in the DRC met yesterday in Belgium to discuss the future of the country and give a position on the election.

The DR Congo is scheduled to hold election on December 23, two years from the time they were originally scheduled. 


President Lungu made the remarks at State House when a delegation of Roman Catholic bishops from the DR Congo visited him to discuss the situation.

President Lungu recently assumed the chairmanship for a troika on politics, peace and security for the regional grouping, SADC.

He expressed worry that the election in that country, which shares a vast border area with Zambia, may not be free and fair.

Two major popular candidates, Moise Katumbi and Jean Pierre Bemba, have been blocked from contesting the election triggering unrest.

“DRC is a very big neighbour of ours. When things go wrong there, we are affected immensely ourselves and I’ve shared this concern with Mr [Joseph] Kabila and he assured me that all will be well,” said President Lungu.

“But going by media reports, it looks like not all will be well.”

President Lungu has pledged to work with other members of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) in find a lasting solution in DR Congo.

The ruling coalition has picked former interior minister Emmanuel Shadary as its candidate ending years of speculation that President Kabila would seek an illegal third term mandate.

And visiting Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo has said his church which has played a key role in preaching peace and calling the government to order is worried with the electoral process.

Archbishop Ambongo, the vice president of the Council of Catholic Bishops in DR Congo, says its important that the country holds an election acceptable to all players.

“We are worried with the current happenings in our country. Some candidates have been excluded and this may result in others rejecting the outcome so we would like Sadc to get involved to ensure inclusiveness of all major actors,” he said.

He called on the release of all political prisoners in DR Congo.

Former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba has been disqualified from the elections Katumbi was blocked from entering to the country when he attempted to return and file his nomination.

Meanwhile, Katumbi, Bemba, Felix Tshisekedi, Vital Kamerhe and Alain Muzito, all opposition leaders met in Belgium yesterday to discuss their position on the future of the DRC.

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