Kinshasa, 29 July, 2021 / 8:38 pm (ACI Africa).
There is yet to be consensus among religious leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the person to head the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), days after the faith-based leaders hinted to concluding the vetting process.
On July 24, the spokesperson of the Forum of Religious Denominations in DRC, Fr. Donatien Nshole, told journalists in that the faith-based leaders who are constitutionally mandated to name CENI Chairperson were “determined” to conclude the vetting and naming process earlier this week.
“It is on Tuesday (July 27) morning that the secretariat will begin, from a technical point of view, vetting shortlisted candidates,” Fr. Nshole who doubles as the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CENCO) said, and added, “The leaders of the religious denominations are determined to do everything possible to conclude on Tuesday if possible.”
However, the religious leaders under their umbrella body of the Forum of Religious Denominations who have been meeting since July 27 are yet to reach a consensus over the choice of the President of CENI.
The faith-based leaders have interviewed the shortlisted candidates, including Cyrille Ebotoko of the Catholic Church, Roger Bimwala of the Salvation Army, Denis Kadima of the Kimbanguist Church, and Daniel Kawata whom the Protestants endorsed.
