Haut-Katanga Province Governor Jacques Kyabula Katwe has returned to Lubumbashi where he is set to undergo further questioned over the disappearance of 120 tonnes of Copper Cathodes from Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM).
Kyabula who had been in the DR Congo capital where he was also brought before the authorities over the same case, returned to the provincial headquarters on Friday.
A great ally of President Fèlix Tshisekedi, Kyabula has been explicitly cited by outgoing Interior & Security Minister Muta Ndala as the main mastermind behind the theft of minerals working together with army officers General Smith Gihanga, currently in custody.
Gihanga, the head of 22nd military region, is said to have whilst working together with Governor Kyabula are said to have overseen an operation in which 120 tonnes of Copper Cathodes were transhipped in three Sinotruck HOWO vehicles, smuggled to Zambia, via the dusty LUMATA road.
Kyabula is said to have pocketed an initial over $120, 000 as upfront payment for the minerals with the remainder pledged to be honoured after payment is completed.
Meanwhile earlier this week, nearly 202 sheets of cathodes were stolen in the city of Kambove but were discovered in Kikula of Likasi city, still in the province of Haut-Katanga where cases theft of minerals are becoming rampant.
