Democratic Republic of Congo electoral body chief, Denis Kadima, is not willing to grant Catholic bishops the request to conduct an independent audit of the voter’s register to ease tension ahead of the election on December 20, 2023 saying it will delay the elections and plunge the country into chaos.
On Friday, Catholic Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have stepped in to quell fears President Felix Tshisekedi and his stooges have cooked up the voter’s roll with fictitious voters and announced they will launch an independent citizen’s audit in liaison with the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI).
The voter’s register, the unconstitutional composition of CENI & the Constitutional Court have been contentious issues raised by the opposition but ignored by President Felix Tshisekedi’s government as part of a process to holding a free, fair, inclusive, transparent and credible election.
Two major opposition leaders Martin Fayulu and former president Joseph Kabila have both boycotted participation in the polls arguing that Tshisekedi has already designed a rigging mechanism to cheat his way to victory.
The Bishop’s body known as CENCO announced on Friday that a transparent and inclusive election is a key ingredients to the peace and stability of the war torn central African nation.
Reacting to the demands by the Catholic Bishops, Kadima says the process will delay the election as it was outside the electoral calendar.
“it is really impossible for us at this time when we are moving towards the elections to say stop, do another audit of the electoral register,” Kadima said.
“In this country we have almost 920 political parties and most of the political parties participate. And those who do not participate even if they are not many, we continue to open our door but we cannot go beyond if not we will not have elections in this country. The scenario of not having elections is more catastrophic than having one or two political parties which do not participate.”
Kadima’s position is set to attract fierce reaction from the opposition who are determined to ensure the electoral voter’s register is audited.
