On November 21, the city of Lubumbashi, located in the Haut-Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the scene of an unusual event to say the least. In the city center, members of a religious sect destroyed the lion statue which proudly sat in front of the Lipamu building on Mzee Kabila Boulevard. They then replaced it with another statue representing a leopard, before the police intervened to remove it.
The perpetrators of this act of vandalism were followers of a local sect based in the Kamasaka district of the Annex commune in Lubumbashi. Dressed in white cassocks and leopard-colored clothing, they acted under the leadership of their prophet. Armed with hammers, two of them destroyed the lion statue under the stunned looks of the witnesses present. Meanwhile, the other members were making incantations.
Alerted, the security services quickly intervened and the perpetrators were arrested. Brought before the provincial governor, they explained that their act was motivated by a divine message. According to their prophet, the lion statue harbored an evil spirit which prevented the provincial authorities from working properly.
The governor of Haut-Katanga strongly condemned this act of vandalism and ordered that those responsible be brought to justice. The new statue erected by the sect was also removed by the police.
This destruction sparked strong reactions among the population of Lubumbashi. Many wonder how such an act could have been committed in broad daylight, near a police station. The competent authorities will have to shed light on this security flaw and take the necessary measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
This affair also highlights the presence of controversial religious sects in Congolese society. It is essential to raise awareness of the dangers of these groups which can lead to extreme and anti-social actions.
In conclusion, the act of destruction of the lion statue in Lubumbashi by a religious sect aroused astonishment and anger. It is crucial to strengthen security and raise awareness of the dangers of these extremist groups. Justice will have to do its job so that such acts do not go unpunished.