Opposition Together for the Republic leader Moise Katumbi has registered as a voter in the 2023 presidential election picking on the popular locale of Ruashi in Lubumbashi as his registration center.
Mr. Katumbi says he chose to register in Ruashi so he would side with the poor and assure them that they were not alone in the challenges that had beset the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He told supporters after enlisting for the vote that his campaign and eventual election was a dedication to the poor people like those in Ruashi.
Mr. Katumbi, a devot Catholic, says he chose to register from the Parish Sainte Marie to call on the Church and its people to intercede on behalf of the people of the Congo.
“The Congolese people have suffered; there is war, there’s injustice and there is hate. We want the church to intercede for us as we go to the election. Let everyone who supports us and our agenda register to vote.
“On the day of the election, I urge our supporters not to leave the polling station. You have to stay at the polling station and sacrifice a night for the good cause so that he who has won should be declared the winner,” he said in his native Swahili as local journalists swarmed him and his team shortly after the exercise.
The popular candidate who is favourite to win the election that incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi is contesting was accompanied to the registration center by hundreds of supporters bring the DRC’s second largest city to a virtual halt as the procession was characterized by chants, song and dance.
“I chose to enlist in Ruashi because this commune is among those who have suffered a lot. By coming to enroll in the parish of Sainte Marie, I would like the latter to be able to intercede for our country which is going through terrible suffering.” said Moïse Katumbi.
The voter registration exercise for the second phase commenced on Wednesday January 25 and will end on February 24 in the province of Haut-Katanga.
