The Supreme Court of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo has overturned the election of United Methodist Tunda Prosper as governor of the Maniema province.
In its ruling, the high court said, according to law, a traditional chief is not permitted to be governor of the province.
Tunda, whose full name is Tunda Kasongo Lukali Prosper, is chief of the village of Tunda, an area with a strong United Methodist presence. His family hosted the first Methodist missionaries in East Congo in 1922 and he is the third in his family to be chief of the region.
Tunda was elected governor on March 28 by an overwhelming majority at the Provincial Assembly of Maniema.
After the election, a political group that claims to support President Joseph Kabila filed an application with the Court of Appeals from Kindu to challenge the results. The appeals court upheld Tunda’s election, but the group brought another petition to the Supreme Court of Justice.
“Our God is faithful. He is in control of everything. Let’s stay in prayer,” said Tunda, following the court’s ruling. “God knows why he allowed our opponents to rejoice in the illegality.”
The ruling shocked United Methodists in East Congo. Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda said he was surprised and dismayed by the news.
“Honorable Tunda was democratically elected. He is a son of Maniema like everyone else. I can only bow to the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice,” he said.
He called on United Methodists here to accept the top court’s decision.
“We cannot criticize or say anything. We lost the battle, not the war. When we are in front of justice, we have two possibilities: Either we win or we lose. We have lost. What I ask the United Methodists to do is continue to pray for God to give us a wise man who will lead the province wisely,” Unda said.
Pastor Felix Okende of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, where Tunda is a member, said he is disappointed by Congolese justice but is finding solace in the Bible.
He cited Psalm 37:7-8: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil.”
Religious leaders in the Kivu Conference also expressed their unhappiness with the ruling.
The Rev. Dumas Balaganire, district superintendent of Uvira, called the decision “a total disappointment for the Methodist community in the Congo.”
Coordinator of youth in Kivu, Dr. Damas Lushima, said Tunda is the “victim of a political problem. … Sooner or later justice will be established in my country.”
The Rev. Godelive Wakubenga, pastor of Uvira’s New Jerusalem United Methodist Church Swahiliphone invited the faithful to pray for Chief Tunda.
“Men have their proposals on this earth and God has his. What happens to our faithful today is the will of God,” he said.
Londe is a communicator of the East Congo Conference. Philippe Kituka Lolonga contributed to this report. News media contact: Vicki Brown at (615) 742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.
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