He emphasizes, “In front of the voting machine, we must exercise our inner freedom, without letting our conscience be shackled and our vote influenced by goods received during the election campaign period, nor by false promises, still less by tribal, regional or religious pressure.”
Bishop Muhoya urges the electorate to be aware that “our lives over the next 5 years will not depend on ephemeral goods or demagogic speeches influencing our choice.”
As Christians, the Catholic Bishop says, “let us prepare this act of voting through personal or community prayer, so that it may take place in peace, given the situations of tension and violence recorded here and there during the electoral campaign period.”
“Through this act of voting, we are called upon to severely punish those who have mismanaged public affairs or shown themselves to be incompetent,” he says, echoing sentiments of Bishop Donatien Bafuidinsoni of DRC’s Inongo Diocese, who said that the country needs a new crop of political leaders for a “better future”.
Taking part in the elections, he continues, “is also an opportunity to renew our confidence, by re-electing those who have done a good job, if any. Otherwise, let's give a mandate to new leaders who have demonstrated a sense of the common good, love of country and generosity in their plans for society.”
The Catholic Church leader who has been at the helm of Kindu Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in February 2021 following his November 2020 appointment cautions the electorate against acts of violence.
“Let us avoid acts of violence on the day of the vote, as well as in the days after, until the publication of the final results,” he says, and adds, “Let us not leave the polling stations before the results have been posted, and before all the related documents have been officially signed.”
Bishop Muhoya goes on to implore, “May the Messiah, whom we await, enlighten the intelligence and conscience of each one of us so that we may vote for His greater glory and for the well-being of our Homeland.”
Meanwhile, Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku has called on citizens in the Central Africa nation not to boycott the December 20 polls.
“On Wednesday (December 20), unless something changes, we're going to the polls. I call on you to go and do your duty,” Bishop Paluku said during Holy Mass at the St. Francis of Assisi Kaghuntura Sanctuary.
