The head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in Kutu, in the province of Mai-Ndombe, was recently dismissed for gross negligence. This decision was taken by the president of the CENI, Denis Kadima, following the observation of losses of equipment within the antenna of Kutu.
Indeed, the CENI had undertaken several inventory missions in order to take stock of its heritage in the various dismemberments. Inventory reports revealed discrepancies between September 2019 and July 2022 figures, suggesting material loss. Among the missing items are 11 generators, 8 motorcycles, 2 speedboats, 14 Thuraya satellite phones and 380 external batteries of the electronic voting devices.
Faced with these findings, disciplinary measures were taken against those responsible for the management and custody of the equipment within the provincial executive secretariats and CENI branches. In the specific case of the Kutu branch, the branch manager was dismissed for gross negligence, because he was unable to justify these losses and provide evidence to support his explanations.
This revocation testifies to the will of the CENI to take firm measures to ensure the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. The loss of election materials is a serious issue that can compromise the legitimacy of elections. It is therefore essential that control and accountability measures are put in place to avoid such situations in the future.
The dismissal of the head of Kutu also highlights the importance of good management of public resources. CENI equipment is funded by taxpayers and therefore it is essential that it is used appropriately and protected against loss or misappropriation.
In conclusion, the dismissal of the head of the CENI office in Kutu for gross negligence following the loss of electoral material highlights the CENI’s commitment to the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. This decision marks an important step in the fight against the mismanagement of resources and sends a clear message on the importance of accountability in the context of public missions