People of DRC Should Take Decision to Revise Constitution, President Says
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The opposition has already accused President Tshisekedi of pushing for the repeal of the current constitutional article limiting presidents to two terms, earlier reports said. However, the country's leader denied the allegations, stressing his commitment to the development of the DRC.
The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should make the decision to revise the constitution or not, President Felix Tshisekedi stated, addressing the nation in the city of Lubumbashi in the south-east of the country on Saturday.
"Next year, I will set up a commission of wise Congolese men and women from all walks of life to review this constitution. Their proposals will be presented to you, the Congolese people, […] and if necessary, we will consult the population, so that they can decide for themselves whether to stop at revising the constitution or to go further and change it completely," Tshisekedi said.
The president expressed his support for the revision of the constitution, saying that the current one contains an article that jeopardizes the country's sovereignty, referring to the article 217 which says the DRC may sign association or community treaties or agreements involving a partial cession of its sovereignty to "promote African unity."
"It is an insult to the intelligence and wisdom of our people. To ask the Congolese people not to revise their constitution when it contains the famous article 217, which enshrines the sale of our sovereignty to African states," he explained.
During Saturday's speech, Tshisekedi refuted accusations by the opposition that he is pushing for the repeal of the current constitutional article limiting presidents to two terms.
"I did not come to lead the Congo to stay in power forever and make my people suffer. I would never do that. Everything I do, everything I think about, is for the happiness of my people and the development of my country," the president emphasized.
The "Civil Forum" (CF) movement, which includes organizations and citizen society initiative groups, including youth groups, voiced its opposition to the drafting and adoption of a new constitution for the DRC, CF coordinator Martin Milolo told local media in early November.
"It has now become clear that people close to the regime are seeking a third term for the current head of state. We demand that the current constitution be left untouched," Congolese news portal Actualite quoted Milolo as saying.
