Congo mourns the passing of veteran politician Pierre Lumbi who died as a result of corona virus.
Lumbi who died on Sunday 14 June, 2020 was an advisor of former President Joseph Kabila and afterwards a figurehead in the opposition. He comes the highest placed victim of the novel coronavirus in Congo.
He was equally a popular member of civil society in the 1990s, Lumbi held several ministerial portfolios before advising Kabila on security.
Lumbi was elected as a Senator for South Kivu province in 2016 and worked as campaign manager for Martin Fayulu in his bid to win the 2018 election.
Fayulu tweeted, “Very saddened by the death of Senator P. Lumbi.”
He died at the Centre Medical in the capital city of Kinshasa, due to complications relating to coronavirus said his family. The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 4,478 coronavirus cases with 107 deaths.
“Very sad to learn about the death due to #Covid19 of Pierre Lumbi,” Ida Sawyer, Deputy Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, said on Twitter. “I have fond memories of many engaging conversations with him over the years. Condolences to his family and friends.”
Source: CGTN Africa