The Congolese opponent and former governor of Katanga, Moïse Katumbi, is stepping up to the plate by denouncing a corruption scandal involving the public mining company COMINIERE and a mysterious Congolese NGO, in the case of lithium exploitation in Manono with the Australian firm, AVZ.
According to Moïse Katumbi who spoke via his X account, after the sale of shares in COMINIERE, a colossal sum of 70 million USD was paid into the accounts of an NGO, whose President is none other than administrator of the public company itself: “Even more suspicious, of this transfer, 40 million USD mysteriously disappeared,” he indicated.
“All accusing fingers point to the Chinese company, a subsidiary of Chinese miner Zijin Mining Group, in this bribery game,” Katumbi said. And added: “While Manono is crying for help for the rehabilitation of the Piana-Mwanga dam, our elites are glutting themselves on the backs of the people.”
The Congolese opponent also castigated the silence of the justice system and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the face of this scandal. “Why is the Prosecutor remaining deaf to this matter, while the EITI has remained silent since 2021, without producing a report? “, he asked.
Furthermore, Katumbi called for an end to this “shameful looting”, insisting that “the money is evaporating, while our brothers and sisters in the East suffer”.
“Who will guarantee the future of our children when our resources are exhausted? It is high time to put an end to this shameful looting and demand accountability,” he recommended.
This new accusation of corruption comes on top of a series of scandals which have marred the governance of President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi in recent months. Katumbi, who has presidential ambitions, called for national mobilization to fight corruption and end impunity.
It is worth remembering that COMINIERE has been accused several times of blocking the project to exploit the Manono lithium mine, in the province of Tanganyika, to favor the Chinese group Zijin Mining group. The project led by AVZ Mineral Limited had, however, raised “hopes” within the local community.
Saïbe Tribe
https://x.com/MINES_CD/status/1783809749907107978
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