Fire at the CENI warehouse in Bukavu (South Kivu): 900 voting machines and equipment consumed
A large-scale fire broke out on Saturday July 29 in a warehouse of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in Bukavu, in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fire devastated the warehouse, consuming 900 voting machines, motorcycles, batteries and solar panels that were intended to equip the CENI offices in Bukavu as well as certain territories in anticipation of the next elections.
According to the provincial executive secretary of the CENI, Gaudens Maheshe, only 300 voting machines could be saved. The local authorities quickly intervened but were unable to prevent the spread of the flames which totally devastated the building. An investigation has been opened to determine the causes of this major fire.
The governor of South Kivu, meanwhile, went to the scene of the fire and confirmed the opening of an investigation to establish responsibilities. He also announced the arrival of a CENI team in the region to take the necessary measures to compensate for this significant loss of electoral material.
This fire comes a few days after the President of the Senate, Bahati Lukwebo, provided the city of Bukavu with 5 fire trucks, with the aim of strengthening security measures in the event of an emergency. However, despite this initiative, the fire spread rapidly and caused significant damage.
This sad news highlights the challenges facing the DRC in organizing its elections. The destruction of this electoral material will undoubtedly delay preparations and further complicate the electoral process. It is crucial that the authorities shed full light on this fire and take the necessary measures to guarantee the transparency and integrity of the electoral process to come.
As the Congolese population eagerly awaits these elections, it is essential to put in place adequate security measures to avoid such incidents in the future. The elections represent a crucial stage in the construction of a democratic and peaceful society in the DRC, and it is imperative that the means be implemented to ensure their smooth running. Hopefully this incident will serve as a lesson and preventative measures will be taken to avoid such disasters in the future