Olive Lembe di Sita
Olive Lembe di Sita | |
---|---|
First Lady of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
Assumed office 26 January 2002 | |
President | Joseph Kabila Kabange |
Personal details | |
Born |
Maniema, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 29 July 1976
Children |
Sifa Kabila (15, 2001) Laurent Desire Kabila Jr. (8, 2008) |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Marie Olive Lembe di Sita (born 29 July 1976 in Kailo, Maniema, Zaire) is the current First Lady of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was the long-term fiancée of Congolese President Joseph Kabila whom she married on 17 June 2006, becoming her country's First Lady.[1]
In 2000, a daughter was born to the couple, Sifa Kabila, named after Kabila's own mother, and former first lady Sifa Mahanya.
Wedding
On 1 June 2006, the head of the Maison Civile, Theo Mugalu, officially announced the wedding of Ms. Lembe di Sita to the President.
Two different dates emerged, some reports stating 10 June 2007,[2] and other stating 10 June 2006.[3] The wedding eventually took place on 17 June 2006 at the Presidential residence, in La Gombe, Kinshasa.[4]
As President Kabila is Protestant, and Ms. Lembe di Sita is Catholic, the wedding ceremony was somewhat ecumenical, with both Cardinal Etsou, and Mgr Pierre Marini Bodho - Bishop and President of the Church of Christ in Congo, the umbrella church for most Protestant denominations in Congo - officiating. Cardinal Etsou had preeminence however.