welcomes declaration by Congolese religious leaders in support of the 30 July
elections
28 July 2006
Kinshasa - The leader of the South African Observer Mission (SAOM) to the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George, has
applauded religious leaders in the DRC who have declared their support for the
30 July 2006 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The religious leaders of the DRC on Wednesday, 26 July 2006 signed a
declaration committing themselves to mobilising members of their congregations
to vote during the 30 July elections and called upon the Congolese political
parties to co-operate with national and international observers. The religious
leaders represent all religious denominations in the DRC.
At the signing ceremony the religious community was represented as
follows:
* Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo - Catholic Church
* Bishop Pierre Marini Bodho - Christian Church of the Congo
* Sheik Abdallah Mangala - Islamic Community
* Bishop Simon Nzinga Maluka - Independent Churches
* Rev Mangala Mandungu - Kimbanguist Church
* Bishop Ntambwe - Revival Churches
In the declaration, the religious leaders urged candidates and political
parties to accept the results of the ballots in order to maintain a climate of
peace and national concord for the reconstruction of the DRC and appealed to
the DRC Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to do all they can to make the
elections a success.
"The signing of this declaration re-confirms the seriousness with which the
Congolese take these elections," said Deputy Minister Mluleki George. "It is
yet another indication that the people of the DRC are eager to take the
democratic process in their country forward."
Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George also described as encouraging the
announcement on Thursday, 27 July 2006 by the Catholic Episcopal Conference
under the chairmanship of Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo, urging all Catholics to
vote on 30 July.
Deputy Minister Mluleki George is currently leading the SAOM to the DRC. The
SAOM is stationed in the DRC until 4 August 2006 to observe all phases of the
elections, including election campaigns, the voting process and the counting of
votes. They are deployed in all the eleven (11) provinces in the DRC.
Enquiries:
Vincent Hlongwane
Cell: 082 385 1169,
Sam Mkhwanazi
Cell: 083 628 0858 or
Lindo Nkomonde
Cell: 082 875 963
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs on behalf of South African Observer
Mission
28 July 2006
Source: SAPA
