At the heart of the news in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the case of the embezzlement of funds allocated to the response to Covid-19 continues to generate a lot of ink. Former Health Minister Dr. Eteni Longondo, accused of embezzling $6 million, has just been acquitted by the Congolese Court of Cassation, after being held in Makala central prison for some time.
His lawyer, Me Hugues Pulusi, claimed that the Court of Cassation found that his client had never embezzled the funds and that “the former minister is a serious man who worked to spare the people the consequences of Covid-19. “. This court decision relieved supporters of the former minister, but also sparked divergent reactions in Congolese public opinion.
This case of embezzlement of funds intended for the fight against Covid-19 recalls the need to strengthen transparency and good governance in the management of public resources in the DRC. Indeed, there are still too many cases of corruption and embezzlement in the country, which greatly undermines economic and social development efforts.
For this, it is essential that the Congolese authorities put in place effective mechanisms to fight corruption and encourage transparency in the management of public funds. The media, civil society organizations and citizens must also play an active role in monitoring the use of public funds and denouncing any form of corruption or embezzlement.
In short, the acquittal of the former Minister of Health, Dr. Eteni Longondo, is a wake-up call for the Congolese authorities in the fight against corruption and the proper management of public resources. It is time to put in place concrete measures to fight against these scourges which undermine the development of the DRC