Democratic Republic of Congo Deputy Prime Minister of Defence Jean-Pierre Bemba’s ambition to become the country’s next Prime Minister has been dealt a huge blow after he was implicated in an illegal allocation of public funds scandal.
In a revelation made by the AfricaNews, Jean-Pierre Bemba had sent a letter to the Directors General of the Congo Toll Company (SOPECO) and the Road Management Company (SGR) in which he ordered them to pay public revenue from tolls into the account of the Ministry of National Defense.
The amount of revenue, initially intended for roads, has not been specified but Jean-Pierre Bemba claims to be demanding for the funds in the framework of the war efforts that has already been sufficiently funded.
Jean-Pierre Bemba has been widely criticized in the political circles and been accused of taking advantage of the ongoing war to embezzle public funds.
The Congolese law states that; “Tolls are public revenues granted for the purposes of maintenance and construction of roads” and as such Jean-Pierre Bemba’s letter violates the concession contract and should not be written and signed by the Minister of Defense who does not have the management of toll companies in his remit.
Deputy Prime Minister Bemba does not have the right to contact these toll companies directly to request the payment of public funds under the pretext of a war effort.
Meanwhile, Bemba is also accused of omitting the President of the Republic among the supporting leaders in this correspondence which is another anomaly.
