DRC: the “100-day program”, from major works to the detention of Vital Kamerhe

Text by: Patient Ligodi

Vital Kamerhe, chief of staff to President Félix Tshisekedi, has been in prison since Tuesday. In pretrial detention, he was heard for almost six hours on suspicion of embezzlement allocated to 100-day emergency work initiated with great fanfare by the Head of State at the start of his mandate.

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From our correspondent in Kinshasa,

On Saturday March 2, 2019, Félix Tshisekedi presents with great fanfare, in Kinshasa, his " Emergency program for the first 100 days ".

Some government officials close to former President Joseph Kabila were even booed by the thousands of Tshisekedi party UDPS activists that day. They are accused of not having done the same thing when they were in business.

$ 497 million

Members of the diplomatic corps, heads of national institutions, ministers are present. There is great hope. The works are launched at full speed in several cities including Kinshasa, Bukavu and Kananga. Various sectors are concerned, including access to electricity and drinking water, health and school infrastructure and roads. In Kinshasa, for example, leapfrog yards, which are supposed to combat traffic jams and ease traffic, are launched.

A budget of $ 497 million is announced. But the problem is that the last government of Joseph Kabila is declared resigned and therefore everything is managed provisionally from the presidency of the Republic. A few months later, the first suspicions of corruption fell. They firstly concern the opacity of the procurement procedure, a significant number of which took place over the counter. Day after day, construction sites trample and accusations of embezzlement are increasing.

Judicial investigation in February 2020

It was not until February 8, 2020 that a judicial investigation was opened to investigate the execution of public works included in this emergency program. The heads of construction companies like Office de route, Safricas and Samibo have already been arrested and imprisoned. Some have left, enjoying provisional freedom.

►Read also: DRC : Vital Kamerhe in pre- trial detention after more than six hours of hearing

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