Fatshimetrie: The embezzlement case that is shaking the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Court of Cassation sitting in criminal appeals opens this Monday, November 4, the sensational trial of the embezzlement case targeting Mike Kasenga, boss of the company Stever Construct, and François Rubota, former Minister of Rural Development. This scandal, at the heart of the concerns of the Congolese justice system, concerns funds intended for crucial projects for the country’s infrastructure, including the materialization of street light projects in Kinshasa and the construction of pumping and water treatment stations in rural areas.
The two defendants, accompanied by their lawyers and close collaborators, find themselves today at the center of attention, as light is finally shed on allegations of overbilling surrounding these projects. The initial contract, signed between the Congolese government and the consortium Devert Construct Cameroun SARL and Sotrad Water, aimed to set up 1,000 water pumping and treatment units in 1,000 localities with a colossal budget of nearly USD 400 million over five years.
It was following an alarming report by the Observatory of Public Expenditure and the Congolese League Against Corruption that the justice system was seized, thus highlighting deep suspicions of embezzlement and embezzlement. Despite the denials and assertions of the accused ensuring compliance with the contractual terms, the suspicions persist and arouse the indignation of civil society, which is eager for transparency and accountability.
The case of Nicolas Kazadi, former Minister of Finance and currently a national deputy, also implicated but not mentioned in the extract of the role, raises additional questions about the integrity of political figures and economic actors. The call for a rigorous investigation by ODEP resonates like a cry of alarm in a context where the fight against corruption remains a government priority, despite persistent shortcomings in its concrete and effective implementation.
While the Congolese political and economic world is shaken by these compromising revelations, the stakes of this trial go far beyond the only protagonists involved. It is above all a question of restoring citizens’ trust in institutions, ensuring the proper management of public funds and firmly punishing all forms of corruption and embezzlement, in order to build a more transparent and virtuous future for the DRC. In this crucial period, the outcome of this trial will reveal not only the individual responsibility of the accused, but also the capacity of the judicial system to effectively combat criminal practices that hinder the country’s development.