“The affair of the embezzlement of more than 10 million dollars at Gécamines continues to fuel Congolese news. After the hearings of the members of the Board of Directors of the state company by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) , the conclusions of the investigation have just been submitted. And the results are damning.
According to sources close to the matter, the IGF highlighted the opacity and bad governance which prevailed in this massive embezzlement of funds. The members of the Gécamines Board of Directors simply shared these millions of dollars between them as if they were peanuts, without worrying about the real needs of the mining company.
This affair caused real indignation among the population and gave rise to popular demonstrations, particularly in Lubumbashi. Civil society organizations, which denounced these actions, are now awaiting firm and urgent measures from the Minister of State, Minister of the Portfolio, Adèle Kahinda. Their complicity, corruption or participation in this affair could be blamed on them if no concrete action is taken.
The investigation led by the IGF began on Friday November 10, with the hearings of the people involved in the embezzlement. After several days of resistance, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gécamines, Guy-Robert Lukama, was finally heard. The results of these hearings confirmed suspicions of massive embezzlement.
It should be remembered that it was the IGF which alerted about these transfers of 10 million dollars coming from the Gécamines subsidiary, SMICO. These funds were distributed among 27 people within the mining company, in violation of all rules of good governance.
This affair once again highlights the challenges facing the Democratic Republic of Congo in the fight against corruption and mismanagement of public resources. It is crucial that measures are taken to punish those responsible for this misappropriation and establish a culture of transparency within the state enterprise.
In conclusion, the affair of the embezzlement of more than 10 million dollars at Gécamines is a scandal which highlights the shortcomings of the governance system in the DRC. It is essential that those responsible are held to account in order to restore the confidence of the Congolese people and guarantee sound and transparent management of the country’s resources.”