Kinshasa, December 20st, 2022 (CPA).- The President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi, accompanied by the First Lady, attended the ecumenical worship, celebrated Tuesday, at the People’s Palace, in memory of 140 people who died as a result of the rain torrential storm that hit Kinshasa on the night of December 12 to 13.
« This ceremony consists of addressing a prayer to the Eternal God, so that he can welcome the souls of our compatriots and at the same time that he can console the bereaved families« , said the moderator of the cult, the apostle Kabongo , in front of the families of the victims and a large crowd.
« As it says in the Bible, we should rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn, » he added.
The Head of State welcomed by representatives of religious denominations
A dozen heads of religious denominations, all cults combined, followed one another to the podium for a prayer of circumstance. Touched and dismayed following this tragedy, the Head of State, who was in Washington in the United States of America within the framework of the 2nd USA-Africa summit, had cut short his American stay to return to the country.
The government had decreed, at the same time, a national mourning of 3 days, from Wednesday, December 14, to honor the memory of the compatriots who died as a result of this natural calamity.
The space set up for worship at the People’s Palace
These bad weather had also caused enormous material damage in the city of Kinshasa, namely landslides, the cutting of roads and electric current, the collapse of walls and residences as well as floods.
The ceremony ended with the laying of a wreath by the Presidential Couple, in memory of the deceased compatriots. The Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, the presidents of the two chambers of Parliament, as well as some members of the government attended this ecumenical service.
