Kinshasa: Le Blanc Muzingu and his gang of swindlers who promised appointments and promotions arrested on Thursday

The office of the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST) announced the arrest, on Thursday, April 13, of a criminal network that extorted money in exchange for promises of employment, promotions, or bonuses. Le Blanc Muzingu Muheka, 27, a resident of No. 4 at the intersection of Cocotier and Batetela avenues in the Gombe district and leader of this gang, was caught red-handed by police officers. This occurred in the office of Minister Tony Mwaba, while he was in the midst of negotiations with his latest victims, including officials from the Ministry of EPST. He was arrested along with his accomplices, who presented themselves to others as provincial assistants of DINACOPE. They are Likopa Engbangi Bob (Kin-Plateau), Mulopwe Lumumba (Kin-Lukunga), and Loola Botamba Guylain (Kin-Plateau). The ringleader would pose at times as the minister’s advisor in charge of partnerships, and at other times as the national director of the National Directorate for Control, Payroll Preparation, and Management of Teacher and Administrative Staff in Educational Institutions (DINACOPE, formerly SECOPE). According to his victims, Le Blanc Muzingu Muheka and his gang promised appointments by ministerial decree to the rank of director or to include the names of these individuals on DINACOPE payroll lists as directors or IT specialists. They extorted 2,000 U.S. dollars from each “client” in exchange for these favors. “Sometimes he would call the numbers +243 812623905 and +243 824685980, pretending to issue orders to DINACOPE executives,” sources report. The communications office of Minister Tony Mwaba’s office reaffirms the EPST head’s determination to fight fiercely against unethical practices in his sector. The Office, which warns against these practices, calls on officials to remain vigilant. It should be noted that such practices have been reported since Tony Mwaba announced the mechanization of new units starting this April. This April, several new units will be taken over by the state. The subsidy for free education has been increased effective this April. Dan de Dieu Kayanda