VZCZCXRO1451
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0858 2651402
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221402Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0105
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000858
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SUBJ LINE CHANGE)
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EINV CG
SUBJECT: DEPUTY JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES
COMBATTING CORRUPTIONAL WITH TRANSPARENCY
INTERNATIONAL CO-FOUNDER MICHAEL HERSHMAN
REF: KINSHASA 850
1. (SBU) Michael Hershman, American co-founder of Transparency
International, visited Kinshasa September 14-16. This cable is a
summary of Hershman's meeting with Justice Vice-Minister Collins
Musonda Lalusambo. Hershman's meeting with President Joseph Kabila
is at reftel. His meeting General Celestin Mbala Musense, the
President's senior military advisor, will follow septel.
2. (SBU) Hershman met with Musonda on September 15. Musonda began
by noting that the Ministry of Justice was engaged in the fight
against corruption, but added that it was a difficult effort absent
reform of the judiciary sector. The biggest challenges, according
to Musonda, are that the DRC does not have enough magistrates, and
magistrates are not properly trained. Magistrates, in Musonda's
view, should be trained by foreigners.
3. (SBU) Responding to Hershman's question about how the MoJ would
pursue a corruption case against a high-level official, Musonda said
that there was a special investigatory unit within the MoJ that
would take on such a case. Musonda, however, dodged a question
whether the MoJ would enjoy political support to pursue high-level
corruption cases.
4. (SBU) Musonda acknowledged that, although DRC laws are
sufficient to fight corruption, enforcement "depends on human
beings." Hershman acknowledged this, but underscored this was why
it was important to have strong political will to pursue corrupt
officials. Hershman said that in many countries, including in the
DRC, it was vital to have a commitment from government, business,
and civil society in order to change a "culture of corruption."
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