Thursday, March 28, 2024

SADC recognises Felix Tshisekedi as President-Elect of DRC and Congratulates him

Share

President Lungu with Namibian President Hage Geingob on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for the official opening of the Agricultural and Commercial Show on Friday, July 29,2016-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has issued a statement congratulating the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President-elect Felix Tshisekedi.

In a statement released to the media and signed by the SADC chairman and President of Namibia Hage G. Geingob, the organisation further congratulated the people of DRC, the political leadership, and all stakeholders in the country for conducting the elections in a peaceful manner despite the security and logistical challenges.

The statement further called upon all Congolese to accept the outcome, and consolidate democracy and maintain a peaceful and stable environment following the landmark elections.

SADC also called upon all stakeholders to support the President-elect and his Government in maintaining unity, peace and stability; and attaining socio-economic development in the DRC and looked forward to a peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect.

The statement concluded by reiterating the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC, and commits its support to the Government of DRC in line with the SADC Treaty, and the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

The recognition and congratulations of Mr Tshisekedi as President-Elect comes despite calls by the losing candidate Martin Fayulu to regional bodies to reject the the court ruling that confirmed the election of his opponent.

Mr Fayulu had called upon SADC, IGLR and the African Union to reject the Ruling as it might be a basis of an illegal government.

The African Union, sitting with the International Conference and Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and SADC held a 7 hour meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopiah on Thursday at which they urged the DRC Constitutional Court to delay or suspend their ruling until a Committee of Heads of State had meetings with stakeholders in the DRC on Monday.

With SADC recognizing the election results, the AU and other regional bodies are likely to follow the same path.

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli also sent congratulations on Twitter.

47 COMMENTS

  1. So does this mean the projected vote pattern in the areas that will only vote this March still maintain Felix as the President du Congo? Nifunsa cabe…

    • A very good question mate! I think there is too much rush in making Felix a president and that raises many questions especially considering the circumstances. Whatever the outcome, let us hope that they will all act in the best interest of peace.

  2. SADC does not cease to amaze me. They went to monitor elections in DRC After elections, the group did not release its report on whether the elections were free and fair or even indicate who had won. Next, they meet in South Africa and call for a government of national unity without regard as to whether the constitution of that country provides for such. Next, they announce from Addis Ababa that the Constitutional Court should suspend the announcement of the final results. Kabila tells them off. Next they congratulate Tshisekedi…. If this not chaos in the SADC leadership, then what is it?

  3. Lazy Lungu has no foreign policy whatsoever…its even an embarrassment and ironic that those blind sheep at SADC even put him in this position…I am sure the lazy man Edgar can not wait for another inauguration ceremony to attend and another chance to get airborne

    • My dear friend I dont hate your Edgar Lungu, what I detest about the man is his incompetence, his laziness/laxity/slothfulness/dullness, his recklessness, his hypocrisy, his deceitfulness, his lack of integrity ..if this doesn’t affect you then you are also like him and have similar traits…am not a loser I am successful in my own right thank you very much I dont need to sponge of poor taxpayers and live on brown envelopes. Edgar has given all he can give he should have never stood in 2016…look at what Tanzania president has accomplished in the short space of time.
      I said the same thing about Great Galu and bloggers like you assumed that I disliked him because he slept with my wife…really insecure guy you are…..until FIFA exposed the man with a 2 year ban.

    • its not a person,president per say but a country,it was zambia s turn to hold the sadc POSITION ,it rotates among all its member state.

    • What make’s you say Lungu is lazy ? Are you his competitor? HH said he is chakolwa and was beaten in first round on 50+1, how can a chakolwa beat you and now call him lazy are you sharing the same girl friend to gauge his strength?

  4. For the sake of peace I think SADC has shown maturity in the manner they have handled there part unlike the church which wanted to positivity in a country of division like the DRC. It is better to shut up sometimes or to look a coward in order to maintain peace because they put peoples interest first

  5. Too bad for ECL. No deals in Congo now. His favoured candidate Fayulu who was backed by Lungu’s Katumbi to whom he had even issued a zambian diplomatic passport has not made it.

    • Razor – there are no permanent enemies in politics…its understood Kabila had brokered a deal with Tshisekedi and we all know Kabila is close to Lazy Lungu so put two and two together…Lazy Lungu wins either way hence they reason he is jumping from tree to tree.

  6. Another Zimbabwe and Zambia situation.Their economies will continue to plummet and the indebtedness to China will grow.Sanctions will be slapped on DRC government.
    THE POVERTY CYCLE CONTINUES.THIS IS THE NEW AFRICA.
    GOD HELP US.

    • ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced he is flying back to Zimbabwe.
      Writing in early Sunday night, Mnangagwa said he will now be represented at the Davis Economic Forum by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

    • 20 January 2019
      On the Ransom Arrest of the Mahiya Family
      Mrs. Hilda Mahiya (63), the mother to Mr. Rashid Mahiya, Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and Executive Director of Heal Zimbabwe Trust, was also badly tortured by the police and the soldiers on Friday 18 January 2019.  The police also tortured Pastor. Douglas (Jnr) Mahiya.  Both are accused of hiding the whereabouts of Mr. Rashid Mahiya whom the state accuses of masterminding the protests that rocked the nation following fuel increases. Shutdown Violations Updates in Brief

      On the Abduction of Obert Masaraure
      Mr. Obert Masaraure, President of ARTUZ who was abducted on Friday 18 January 2019 around 1am, was later dumped at Harare Central Police Station.  He was badly tortured.  He has since been remanded in custody…

    • Continued
      … custody to the 25th of January 2019.  Reports are that he has since been transferred to Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

      On the Attacks Against Civil Society
      In a statement released on 18 January 2019, the Forum condemned the attacks on civil society. Part of the statement reads, “It is regrettable that the government, instead of addressing the deepening economic crisis that has triggered the social unrest, it has resorted to blame shifting and unjustified attacks on civil society leaders whom it accuses of the chaos. Reports have been received of surveillance of civil society premises, homes of civil society members, attacks in the media and threats of de-registration by government. The Forum asserts that the work of civil society particularly, human rights defenders is…

    • How many Zambias(countries) are in Africa. Even if things are not perfect in Zambia, its a shame to bunch Zambia together with Zimbabwe and DRC.

  7. The trib.als also, yaba!!
    Thank God the SADC statement was issued by Namibian President Hage Geingob, Chair of SADC.
    Triba.l Jay Gay, you even attended trib.al school? Maybe your comments should read “Lazy Geingob” and NOT “Lazy Lungu”.

    • Does it matter who issues the SADC statement? SADC is a talk-shop and has just reinforced it with its backtracking …Sunday Chanda gives all these free bundles but you fail to use the internet to educated yourselves ,,if you want assistance just ask dont be ashamed. Dumbsh£t

  8. We congratulate His Excellency President Felix Tshisekedi in realising his just deserts.

    This is a breath of fresh air and we pray the country will break away from its western bonds so the ordinary citizens can get a taste of their resources in such a rich country.

    God Bless and Guide him, and always showing favour to him in his reign.

  9. Trib.al Jay Gay, monga paliko naka jeolous pali ba triba.ls. Imagine how painful it is that Felix Tshisekedi becomes President on the first attempt even if dealing is suspected. Lungu also first time mpa! Contrast this with six time loser Trib.al Hacks, and he is waiting for his seven and last loss.

    • upnd cadre….you’re childish. Lazy Lungu has no clue what he’s doing in office. Extremely incompetent, and clueless. We would’ve all wanted him to be a great president like Magufuli—a President who shows that he deeply cares about his country and his people. Unfortunately, lazy Lungu has not shown any of those qualities. HE IS LAZY!!!! If you can’t recognize a lazy president then you must be a lazy person too. Extremely mediocre leadership. And what scares all of us is that lazy corrupt Lungu wants to stand again in 2021. I don’t support HH, nor do I think that he would make a better president himself. So when I say Lungu is lazy and incompetent, I have no horse in this race. Just plain facts. Hopefully we can have a well educated, patriotic, competent Zambian to become…

    • …. president of Zambia in 2021. Having Lungu as Zambian President for another 5 year term will be a national tragedy.

  10. Looking at DRC history, it’s a good start, this is better as the alternative now is too ghastly to contemplate. The rest including reconciliation and alliances will follow later. Just peace no wars please. Iwe Martin Fayulu, just enter into an alliance with Felix and wait for another chance, in a better environment that you can create together. Don’t be like our Tom Hacks.
    Ignore the Catholics and the French, what do they want in a volatile country like DRC?

  11. Hahaha ,SADC what happened to your call for a government of national unity? You folks are a toothless body of int’l shame and disarray .

  12. UN , EU , AU , SADC . All these clubs do not have power over any independent nation , it is the people of that nation who vote their leaders and it is their electrol commission who anounce the winner of elections full stop the rest just support them .
    Dr Congo have their own constitution court with able judges to judge what is good for their nation the rest should only agree with them .

    • A resource rich country that depends on foringe aid to survive is not suitable to handle any internal affairs ……it is not an independent country.

      If you don’t want interference, don’t take foringe aid , simple.

  13. Oh Government of National Unit, the next minute NO suspend announcement of the election results,No a vote recount will settle the dispute blah blah

  14. SADC is the most useless gathering of corrupt tin pot wannbe dictators, save one or 2 of them, the rest are just corrupt theives.

    They looked on while Mugabe terrorised his people, same now the munangagwa chap is killing protesters , not a word from these corrupt theives. To them murdering protesters is an internal matter.

  15. #10.1 LIE DETECTOR, “Hopefully we can have a well educated, patriotic, competent Zambian to become President of Zambia in 2021”.

    I have expressed similar sentiments many times before, that if President Lungu is bad, then Trib.al Hacks is and has to be worse. That until we identify a credible successor from the opposition, ba h.h is no alternative. I am glad that you agree with me, looking at your comments. For that I forgive you for calling me childish and I spare you the label “trib.al” because you sound largely mature except for calling me childish when you actually agree with me.

    • Truly laughable …this witless chap posts comments everyday about tribal drivel like a silly adolescent and he gets offended when called childish….you have to grow up and stop behaving like a toddler or like that small boy sharon of 2018

  16. @Kalok, GOOD QUESTION, that is why sometimes when people demean us, Africans, we must do an introspection! The difference (cooked) between the winner and run-up is 600,000votes and we are talking of a potential number of voters of 1+million people in what is described as Fuyulu’s strongholds.How can we call these results as final?? It is amazing how SADC has ignored its own processes and focussed on appeasing individuals! If one followed these events beyond what we are reading, they would immediately realise that Fayulu was indeed a true winner! After Tshisekedi was declared winner, there were no thunderous celebrations in most big cities except in his homeland, Kasai. Besides one wonders how he is going to rule effectively when everything is under Kabila’s control!!

  17. When it is your time no one can stop you come what may. Even when UPND’s time comes no one will be able to stop it.They tried to manipulate Tshisekedi’s victory here and there by delaying the announcement of the results but they failed. In 2021 Zambians must rise to the occasion and ensure that votes are not stolen. Obvious Mwaliteta and others who were incarcerated with him for a year are heroes who tried to protect the votes

  18. Maybe the reason why the Catholic Bishops are not happy with the election of Felix Tshisekedi stems from the fact that his Father Etienne, then working with Mobutu authorized the then Prime minister Kimba in 1962 on Pentecost. This is a very important day in the calendar of not only Catholics but many Christian churches. But one should not be punished for sins committed by his ancestors. Besides it’s the people who have picked him.

  19. This thing of saying by Africans that Africans are everything bad is puzzling. You’re an African and demonize you’re own race. Some of the Africans have been called from the diaspora to come and assist but they even become more corrupt than the people they were accusing of corruption while abroad. The Nyasaland now Malawi invited Kamuzu Banda a very highly educated person from abroad to come and lead Malawi. He became a monster that forced many Malawians into exile especially here in Zambia. He even sent assassins to come and eliminate these exiles. One Secondary School Head Master was kidnapping from his Ndola home and imprisoned in Malawi until he died. Let’s not point fingers before examining ourselves.

  20. The correct thing to do, clubs do not go in nations to destroy structures of governance but help to be peaceful in those countries .
    What ever structures of governance decide is what every citizen should stick to it may not be in your favour but it is the best for your nation. If the opposing person is not careful very soon he shall be in prison or become a rebel leader in the jungles of Dr Congo, if he kills people he will be arrested and taken to the criminal court as we have seen with others in the past.

  21. Its a best option for the people of DRC. Then next thing to do is work on election systems in this 5 years before the next elections. Fitting and insulting people whether you dislike them or don’t agree with them is a clear sign of failing to reason properly. People who like insulting or demeaning others only achieve one thing , pain in their own soul. But those who love even people who offend them experience freedom in their soul and would even use their enemies to achieve their goals in life. Sata mastered this . He reconciled with Levy by humbling himself to go to Levy and not demand for Levy to come to him or be sat down like equals. When the term of Levy ended through Rupiah Banda everyone’s heart went to Sata. The rest is history as they say.

    • Much as your suggestion makes, you have to be realistic on what’s on the ground in that beleaguered country. Most parts of the country have no structures both physical and administratively. How I wish Congo would like Malawi wants to do would surrender the Pedicle to Zambia. That would reduce the size. That would the country a bit more manageable. From what I gather, the people working in part of DRC create money from Zambia and use this money to pay their salaries etc from this same money.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading