Yesterday, DR Congo Speaker of the Parliament Vital Kamerhe read before lawmakers a request from the prosecutor of the cassation court to indict, charge, and try Constant Mutamba the justice minister. The erratic drunken Minister is accused of embezzling US$ 35 million in illegal tenders.
But first, in a country where every ruling party politician either is a thief, embezzler, or outright looter, you can be sure some huge, big fish looter – Tshilombo himself – has a beef with Mutamba.
Now, while Congo’s chaotic parliament has yet to “deliberate”, the drunken, loudmouthed crook Mutamba is trembling, dreading prison where only a few months ago he would go to pronounce death sentences on the spot!
Many “lawmakers” are calling not only for Mutamba’s indictment but also for his immediate arrest and prosecution.
In any country with functioning institutions, such a development would be seen as a hopeful step toward accountability.
Not DR Congo, of course.
Mutamba, infamous among Congolese as “Mr. Death Sentence,” has long been a symbol of Kinshasa’s brutality. Known for his erratic behavior and excessive drinking, he handed out death sentences to innocent citizens whose only crime was criticizing President Félix Tshisekedi’s leadership. That such a man ever held the title of “Justice Minister” is even pathetic and a damning indictment of the regime itself.
But let us be clear, Mutamba did not act alone, his actions were in line with a broader culture of repression and theft that defines the Kinshasa elite. To arrest Mutamba while shielding Tshisekedi and his allies is to treat symptoms and ignore the disease.
The DRC is full of a political class that steals with one hand and silences with the other. The country has many thieves in suits and as long as they remain in power, peace and prosperity will remain distant dreams for ordinary Congolese.
For many, hope now lies beyond the regime entirely. The M23 liberation movement has emerged as the last remaining force with the will and vision to bring meaningful change. Unlike Kinshasa’s broken promises M23 speaks to the deep frustrations of a people betrayed by their own leaders.
Real justice will not come through scapegoats. It will only come when the entire rotten structure is torn down.