Leading Congolese opposition president Moise Katumbi says the assassination of Cherubin Okende, the Ensemble pour la République spokesperson, has petrified the population.
In a message of condolences to the family issued this evening, Katumbi says it was inexplicable that a high ranking public figure would be kidnapped from the premises of the Constitutional Court and goes missing without a trace until he was discovered dead in his vehicle.
“This heinous crime of a politician resembles the Chebeya case. An independent investigation must be conducted to shed light on what looks like a state crime,” he says.
“My condolences to his widow & children. Farewell Cherub! RIP.”
The ex-minister of transport had remained “untraceable” since yesterday, according to his bodyguard and family.
He was expected on July 13 before the Constitutional Court following
summons relating to his declaration of assets as a former minister.
Several high profile officials belonging to Katumbi’s party have been targeted by the ruling party UDPS and state agents.
Katumbi’s special advisor Salomon Kalonda Della, an opposition ally Franck Diongo, his National Deputy supporter Mike Mukebayi and others are currently in military prisons on trumped up charges.
Others are targetted for kidnapping and killing with the population of Katanga who form majority of his supporters base threatened with grandscale massacre.
