Current events in the Democratic Republic of Congo are marked by the return of Moïse Katumbi to Kinshasa. The Congolese opponent is currently preparing to submit his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for December 20, 2023.
Before officially submitting his candidacy, Moïse Katumbi toured the country. For three weeks, he visited five provinces with the aim of revitalizing and establishing his political party. This tour, far from easy, was marked by numerous obstacles, such as the hostility of local authorities who tried to obstruct his campaign.
Olivier Kamitatu, chief of staff and spokesperson for Moïse Katumbi, testifies to these difficulties encountered: “At each stage, we had to overcome obstacles. Traders and private companies were prevented from selling him fuel or renting vehicles. bus to transport the populations who came to welcome him. Furthermore, the local administrations refused to provide him with public spaces so that he could address the population.”
Despite these constraints, Moïse Katumbi’s tour was a success. The opposition leader traveled more than 130 kilometers on foot and more than 800 kilometers by boat, in total engagement with the population. This experience allowed him to demonstrate that he is not limited to his stronghold of Katanga, but enjoys national popularity, well beyond the borders of his province of origin.
“What must be remembered from this tour is that Moïse Katumbi managed to get rid of the image of Katangese leader which was often attributed to him. He demonstrated that he enjoys real popularity throughout the country. This constitutes a major lesson and reinforces his legitimacy as a presidential candidate”, concludes Olivier Kamitatu.
The return of Moïse Katumbi to Kinshasa and his preparation for the 2023 presidential election is therefore arousing a lot of attention and enthusiasm in the DRC. The next steps in his campaign and the actions taken to address the obstacles encountered will be closely monitored, as they could shape the political future of the country. So let’s stay tuned for future developments.