Title: Resignation of the President of the Provincial Assembly of Kasaï-Oriental: a political crisis in sight
Introduction :
The Provincial Assembly of Kasai-Oriental is shaken by an unprecedented political crisis. The president of this deliberative body, Athanase Kabongo Malebongo, faces a petition signed by the majority of provincial deputies. The grievances against him are numerous: poor coordination, lack of accountability, violation of internal regulations and proven incompetence. This situation led the majority of deputies to demand his resignation during an extraordinary session. Let us analyze more closely this political crisis which agitates the province of Kasaï-Oriental.
A contested president:
Athanase Kabongo Malebongo is accused by his peers of playing the game of Governor Patrick Mathias Kabeya Matshi by refusing to convene an extraordinary session which would allow parliamentary control to be put in place over the provincial executive. This attitude is perceived as an act of protectionism towards the governor and angers provincial deputies. The latter believe that the President of the Provincial Assembly does not fulfill his functions adequately and that he lacks consideration towards the provincial deputies.
Grievances against the President:
The petition signed by the majority of provincial deputies highlights several grievances against Athanase Kabongo Malebongo. First of all, he is accused of not ensuring effective coordination of the activities of the Assembly. In addition, his lack of accountability is pointed out, which calls into question his ability to lead this deliberative body. In addition, the president is accused of violating the rules of procedure of the Provincial Assembly, which constitutes a serious fault according to his detractors. Finally, his proven incompetence in presiding over plenary sessions is also part of the grounds for the petition.
The president’s reaction and the current procedure:
Athanase Kabongo Malebongo’s cabinet reacted to the petition by pointing out certain pitfalls in the procedure. He affirms that the declaration of withdrawal of confidence of the petitioning deputies cannot lead to his dismissal and calls on them to respect the procedure in this matter. However, the majority of provincial deputies insist on the convening of an extraordinary session and the setting aside of the contested president.
Conclusion :
The political crisis within the Provincial Assembly of Kasaï-Oriental highlights the deep dissensions that exist within this deliberative body. The requested resignation of President Athanase Kabongo Malebongo reflects the dissatisfaction of provincial deputies with his way of leading the Assembly. It is now up to the competent bodies to decide on the actions to be taken to resolve this crisis and restore the proper functioning of the Provincial Assembly of Kasai-Oriental.