Moïse Katumbi Exposes Corruption Scandal in Congolese Mining Sector
Moïse Katumbi, a prominent Congolese opposition figure and former governor of Katanga, has raised concerns about a corruption scandal involving the public mining company COMINIERE and a mysterious Congolese NGO in the lithium exploitation project in Manono with Australian firm AVZ.
According to Katumbi, after the sale of shares in COMINIERE, a significant sum of $70 million was transferred to the accounts of an NGO, whose president is an administrator of the public company. He highlighted that $40 million of this amount mysteriously disappeared.
Katumbi implicated a Chinese subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group in the bribery scheme and criticized the neglect of justice and transparency institutions like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in addressing the issue.
Expressing concern for the well-being of the Congolese people, especially those in the East, Katumbi urged an end to the “shameful looting” of resources and demanded accountability to secure the future for the country’s children.
This accusation of corruption adds to a series of scandals tarnishing President Félix Tshisekedi’s governance. Katumbi, with presidential ambitions, called for national mobilization against corruption and impunity.
Notably, COMINIERE has faced accusations of favoring the Chinese group Zijin Mining Group over the lithium project in Manono, despite hopes raised by AVZ Mineral Limited’s initiative within the local community.
SOURCE:mines-cd.
