Title: The eventful closing of the extraordinary session of the Provincial Assembly of Kasai-Oriental
Introduction :
The Kasai-Oriental Provincial Assembly closed its extraordinary session in an atmosphere charged with tensions and twists and turns. This session was convened to deal with urgent issues, including the report of the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the financial management of the provincial government. Two strong moments marked this session: the dismissal of the former president of the Provincial Assembly and the indictment of the deposed governor for cases of embezzlement of public funds.
Dismissal of the former president of the Provincial Assembly:
Firstly, the Provincial Assembly set up a parliamentary commission responsible for examining the serious misconduct alleged against the former President of the Assembly, Athanase Kabongo. The latter was found guilty and dismissed by the provincial deputies with an overwhelming majority of 16 votes out of 17 voters. This dismissal demonstrates the desire of the Provincial Assembly to fight corruption and incompetence within its ranks.
Impeachment of the deposed governor:
Secondly, the parliamentary commission of inquiry examined and adopted a damning report on the financial management of the provincial government. The ousted governor, Patrick Mathias Kabeya, was directly cited in several cases of embezzlement of public funds. Faced with these accusations, he vigorously denied the facts and insisted on the arbitration of the head of state to save the province. Unfortunately for him, the Provincial Assembly decided to indict him, thus paving the way for legal proceedings against him.
A temporary worker to ensure continuity:
Following the dismissal of the governor, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior, Peter Kazadi, appointed the vice-governor Julie Kalenga Kabongo to assume the interim role while awaiting the organization of the election of a new governor. This decision aims to ensure business continuity and maintain a certain stability in the province.
Conclusion :
The closing of the extraordinary session of the Provincial Assembly of Kasai-Oriental was marked by strong and tumultuous events. The dismissal of the former President of the Assembly and the indictment of the deposed governor demonstrate the desire of provincial deputies to fight corruption and guarantee transparent management of public finances. Pending the election of a new governor, vice-governor Julie Kalenga Kabongo will act as interim governor, in order to maintain stability in the province.