DRC “100 day program” case: John Ntumba accused of embezzlement

The Supreme Court of Justice in Kinshasa in the DRC. RFI / Habibou Bangré

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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an investigation has been officially opened against John Ntumba, current Minister of Vocational Education and close to the president's chief of staff, Vital Kamerhe. This former member of the monitoring committee of the emergency program of Félix Tshisekedi is suspected as his boss in the UNC party of embezzlement of public funds.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,Pascal Mulegwa

The Attorney General at the Court of Cassation informed Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba by mail. John Ntumba is suspected of having embezzled funds before being appointed to the government last August. He was then in charge of monitoring the execution of the works of the “hundred days” in the province of Kasaï-Central, his electoral stronghold.

In this region, one of the fiefs also of President Félix Tshisekedi, was planned in particular the rehabilitation of roads, crossing structures, bridges but also the construction of water boreholes, schools, social housing and even d '' a hydroelectric dam. But since then, almost nothing visible. The governor of this province, Martin Kabuya, has been plagued for months. For this detractor of Minister John Ntumba, the latter had a stranglehold on the management of the finances allocated to Kasaï-Central.

" No achievement on the ground  "

The Attorney General at the Court of Cassation has already opened the judicial file and is only waiting for the green light from the National Assembly to summon John Ntumba for a first hearing. If justice has not revealed anything about the amount of embezzled funds, Governor Kabuya is adamant. According to him, it is 32 million dollars disbursed by the State since last year with "  no achievement on the ground  ".

For the Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP), a Congolese NGO, this minister, although he has no official role in the direct management of funds, "  can be a good source of information because he participated in the design projects  ”. John Ntumba refused to respond to RFI's requests . But two weeks ago, he proclaimed his innocence and promised to cooperate with the justice system.

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  • Ground floor
  • Justice
  • Corruption
  • Félix Tshisekedi

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