On the same day that former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon was blocked from flying to Uvira after his flight was denied authorization in Goma, President Felix Tshisekedi preached democracy in Kananga.
During a rally and in reference to his fierce opponent, Tshisekedi told his supporters that “If they don’t want to come, they won’t come, but if they come, don’t throw stones at them because they have their activists here who need their speeches. This is the democracy we want.”
While Tshisekedi was making those speeches in Kananga, he had issued instructions to civil aviation to deny Matata access.
Matata confirmed yesterday he had been blocked, “On confirmed instructions from the government, the service to campaign in Uvira on behalf of candidate number 3 Moïse Katumbi and my LGD deputies, the plane chartered for this purpose did not receive Goma-Bujumbura flight authorization.
“This proves that fear has changed sides. The government is afraid of the failure of its presidential
candidate.”
The DRC goes to the polls on December 20, 2023 with Katumbi leading the pack ahead of 21 candidates including the incumbent Tshisekedi.
