The management of the city of Kinshasa: a real political chaos
The management of the city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently at the heart of a controversy. The vice-governor, Gecoco Mulumba, recently denounced the calamitous management of its incumbent, Gentiny Ngobila, through a series of tweets. He points to various irregularities, such as non-payment of city cabinet members and inconsistent appointments.
This worrying situation aroused strong reactions, in particular that of the president of the Court of Auditors, Jimmy Munganga, who addressed a letter to the provincial assembly of Kinshasa to ask for sanctions against Gentiny Ngobila and his government, accused notorious incompetence. The president of the Court of Auditors denounces in particular the delay in the filing of the city’s accounts for the 2022 financial year.
Faced with this situation, it is essential to look into the management of the city of Kinshasa and to understand the issues. For this, we collected the opinion of various political actors and experts in decentralization.
Eric Bukula, provincial deputy for the city of Kinshasa and member of the UDPS parliamentary group, stresses the importance of establishing transparent and effective governance. According to him, it is essential to prioritize the needs of the population and to ensure that the funds allocated are used wisely. He also pleads for better coordination between the different political actors in the city.
Mbonzi Wa Mbonzi, provincial deputy for the city of Kinshasa and member of the MLC parliamentary group, highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in the management of public resources. He insists on the need to put an end to the practices of corruption and favoritism which harm the development of the city.
Sudi Kimputu Alimasi, an expert in decentralization, stresses the importance of building the capacities of local actors and promoting a culture of good governance. According to him, it is essential to set up control and evaluation mechanisms to ensure sound and transparent management of the city’s resources.
It is undeniable that the management of the city of Kinshasa poses many challenges. It is necessary to take concrete measures to remedy these problems and to ensure responsible and effective management. Accountability, transparency and citizen participation must be at the heart of the actions undertaken.
In a context where the population of Kinshasa is facing many challenges, such as access to education, health and employment, it is imperative to put in place policies and projects that meet the needs of the population. The current situation calls for the mobilization of all political actors and civil society to work together to build a prosperous and equitable city for all its inhabitants.