Peter Kazadi, a senior official of the UDPS party, has criticized Joseph Kabila, the former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, over the current crisis in the country. Kazadi made these remarks during a live broadcast on Space Live organized by Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala. He accused Kabila of being the leader of the M23 rebellion and an ally of Rwanda, stating that Kabila's actions are aimed at destroying what he had built during his presidency.
Kazadi expressed surprise that Kabila's initiatives did not catch the government off guard, adding that the former president is already taking action. According to Kazadi, Kabila's only remaining move could be to publicly declare that he is taking the lead of the rebellion. The UDPS official also accused Kabila of sending Corneille Nangaa to join the rebellion and allying with Rwandans to "kill Congolese people." He claimed that Kabila had underestimated the resistance of the army and the population.
Kazadi responded to Seth Kikuni, who had described the situation as an "existential crisis." Kazadi shifted the blame to Kabila, stating that the former president must take responsibility for his actions. While acknowledging that Kabila had left a unified and better country in 2019 compared to 2001, Kazadi criticized him for taking up arms to destroy what he had built. "He must assume his actions and tell the people: I built and I decided to destroy," Kazadi said.
Kazadi also defended President Félix Tshisekedi against accusations of tribalism and nepotism. He cited the geographical distribution of key institutions, including the National Assembly, Senate, and army, which are led by individuals from different regions. According to Kazadi, Tshisekedi's leadership is "inclusive," and his team represents the entire country.
In response to criticism of Tshisekedi's performance, Kazadi challenged Joseph Kabila to specify the areas where he believes the current government has failed. On the military front, Kazadi stated that the army is being reorganized and is gaining strength. He also highlighted economic progress, citing a significant increase in the state budget from around $5 billion to over $25 billion.
Kazadi pointed to various infrastructure projects, including roads, universities, and other developments, that have been undertaken under Tshisekedi's leadership. He dismissed accusations of incompetence, stating that the government has made significant strides in various sectors.
The tensions between the UDPS and Joseph Kabila's camp have been escalating, with both sides exchanging criticism. While Kabila has announced new initiatives, Kazadi and others have dismissed them as attempts to regain power. The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains volatile, with ongoing conflicts in the east and criticism of the government's handling of the crisis.
Key points
- Peter Kazadi accuses Joseph Kabila of leading the M23 rebellion and destroying what he built during his presidency.
- Kazadi defends President Félix Tshisekedi against accusations of tribalism and nepotism.
- The UDPS official challenges Kabila to take responsibility for his actions and to specify areas where the current government has failed.
