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The Leader of the South African Observer Mission to the DRC
welcomes Declaration by Congolese Religious Leaders in support of the 30 July
Elections 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 cooperate 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. Ends Enquiries:
Vincent Hlongwane on +27 82 385 1169
Sam Mkhwanazi on +27 83 628 0858
Lindo Nkomonde on +27 82 875 9631 Issued by the South African Observer
Mission c/o South African Embassy in the DRC
77 Ngongo Lutete
Avenue
Gombe, Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo 28 July
2006
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