Once again, crisis struck at the top of UDPS organization this
Thursday, November 17--eleven days in the run-up to the general
elections. The head of UDPS "Commission Nationale de Discipline"--the
party's disciplinary commission--read a statement broadcast on TV and
radio announcing that Secretary General Jacquemain Shabani had just
been sanctioned for "gross misconduct" ("faute grave").
The discplinary commission alleged that Shabani failed to follow up on
the situation of jailed UDPS party members, stifled initiatives coming
from sections within the party, thwarted a crucial meeting between
MONUSCO and the youth wing of the party. Adding these acts of
indiscipline to the active obstruction of the commission's
investigation by Shabani amounted to "disrespecting" the person of the
party's chairman, Etienne Tshisekedi!
However, despite its strong wording, the statement didn't spell out
the actual consequences of this finding of "gross misconduct" on
Shabani's position and career within UDPS. Could Shabani still operate
as the party's secretary general? Has he been suspended or fired?
What's certain is that UDPS can't afford an abrupt estrangement with
one of its most vocal, articulate, media-savvy, and visible non-Luba
senior party officials for those flimsy reasons, when statistics being
thrown around by pro-Kabila campaigners purport to show that an
overwhelming majority of MP candidates on UDPS lists nationwide were
members of Tshisekedi's own Luba ethnic group.
This development, coming just days after Shabani urged CENI to
disqualify Kabila for using government resources and resources in his
reelection bid, left analysts and observers scratching their heads for
an explanation for such a suicidal move by a party whose chairman has
recently proved to be at best mercurial or at worst unhinged.
2) Kengo's official free campaign message aired
The CSAC (Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel et de la
Communication)--the DRC media watchdog--started airing free campaign
messages by presidential and MP candidates. These messages are
simultaneously and mandatorily broadcast by more than 30 TV and radio
channels randomly selected.
Presidential candidate Léon Kengo wa Dondo's pre-recorded message was
aired on Thursday. Kengo said his main projects for the country are
twofold: "to push back poverty and to push back ignorance" (by heavily
investing in education).
In a quick reaction by phone to Kengo's message on pro-Kabila private
media channels, PPRD communication focal point, Emile Bongeli, said
that Kengo is among those politicians from the Mobutu regime "who
ought to just shut up," for their past abysmal records. Adding that as
a three-time most powerful Premier of Mobutu, Kengo actively
partcipated in the utter destruction of the country.
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