The special and temporary commission responsible for hearing the national deputy Daniel Safu Butshiemuni for his recidivist behavior which “desacralizes the function of elected representative of the people and undermines the honor of the lower house of parliament” met on Monday 5 June 2023. This summons follows comments inciting tribal hatred made by the latter during a television broadcast. The deputy, with his colleague Mike Mukebayi, vilified the Congolese of the “Luba” tribe.
David Mukeba, national deputy, pointed out the seriousness of these remarks by specifying that “these public insults were considered by the whole Republic as addressed to our mothers, our sisters and our daughters. A commission had been set up to hear Daniel Safu. He presented himself to the commission of apologies and even presented them publicly, to all the ladies of the DRC and to the Head of State. He was pardoned. This behavior was offending, unworthy which does not honor not only our room, but also the Republic, whether inside or outside the country. However, this did not prevent the deputy from being summoned again.
The commission, made up of 20 members appointed by the President of the National Assembly, Christophe Mboso, on the proposal of the parliamentary groups and non-attached members, is assisted by cabinets and the administration of the Lower House of Parliament duly appointed by speaker Mboso.
The situation is all the more worrying in that during preparations for the opposition march during the month of May, Daniel Safu declared to a journalist that there would be a large number of deaths, leading to thus an incitement to hatred. He had also made tribal threats against an ethnic group on the set of a television channel following this march.
MP David Mukeba has therefore proposed the establishment of an ad hoc committee to deal with this case and possibly sanction Daniel Safu. The behavior of the odious recidivist MP invites such a measure to recover the brand image of the national representation.
This case highlights the problems of tribal hatred in the DRC, which continues to divide the country and its people. The latest events have also highlighted the need to change the political culture by eliminating the culture of violence and tribal hatred in Congolese political life.