A former Prime Minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Augustin Matata Ponyo, president of a new party, Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD), was officially invested on Tuesday, May 3, to defend the colors of the political training.
« I inform you that I have decided to accept your choice of me as our party’s candidate for the presidential election », « I will therefore be a presidential candidate in 2023 » declared Matata Ponyo, 57.
This former head of government says he has « a dream like that of Patrice Emery Lumumba to see, in the center of the continent, an economic power at the service of Congolese, Africans and the world ».
One of its priorities will be the return of peace in eastern DRC, a region of the national territory torn apart by the violence perpetrated by armed groups for several decades.
While in legal trouble, Matata Ponyo said he believed « in the power of justice and the power of truth ». He is accused of having embezzled more than 280 million dollars earmarked for the construction of the agro-industrial park of Bukanga Lonzo under the regime of ex-president Joseph Kabila.
Senator Ponyo qualifies these accusations as a political plot to prevent him from being a candidate for the next presidential election. « For more than a year, they have been trying at all costs to throw me in prison, simply because I refused to obey certain instructions, » he said, implying that he was victim of intimidation for refusing to join the Sacred Union.
“All the legal harassment I have been subjected to for almost a year is unfounded. These are rather political proceedings initiated to compel me to enter the Sacred Union and limit my electoral rights”.
Believing that the truth will come out one day, he invited the Congolese “to massively join the LGD party for the conquest of power and the long-dreamt of development of the DRC?!”.
Matata Ponyo is the first personality to declare his candidacy. Current President Félix Tshisekedi as well as opponents Martin Fayulu and Moïse Katumbi should also enter the race, barring unforeseen circumstances.
By OMA Newsletter N° 689 of 05/05/2022
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