By AFPMore by this AuthorKINSHASA,DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday blocked newly-named senators from taking office and called for a probe into corruption that had allegedly stained their election, an official said. After an inter-ministerial meeting, Olongo said Tshisekedi was "suspending the senators' induction" and postponing elections for provincial governors, due on March 26, until further notice. "Senators and provincial deputies, those who corrupt and those are corrupted... (must be) severely punished," the president was quoted as saying. HUGE MAJORITYThe Democratic Republic of Congo's upper house is elected indirectly by the country's provincial assemblies — a process that critics say is notorious for kickbacks. Last week, he issued pardons for an opposition leader and a rights activist jailed during Kabila's 18-year presidency.

Source: Daily Nation March 19, 2019 05:37 UTC