Title: Transparency in the management of the retrocession of mining royalties to Likasi
Introduction:
The question of managing the retrocession of mining royalties in the commune of Likasi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was recently raised by Mayor Olivier Munongo. During a meeting with Jules Alingete, Inspector General and head of department of the General Inspectorate of Finance, Munongo expressed his concern about the opacity surrounding this issue at the provincial level. In this article, we will examine the issues related to transparency in the management of the retrocession of mining royalties to Likasi and the efforts made to resolve this situation.
A problem of transparency:
According to Mayor Munongo, the retrocession of the Likasi mining royalty would be blocked by financial inspectors on mission in Haut-Katanga. This situation raises doubts about the transparency of the management of these funds at the provincial level. Munongo therefore decided to go to Kinshasa to meet Jules Alingete and obtain clarification on this matter.
A clarification needed:
During the meeting with Munongo, Jules Alingete clarified the situation by explaining that the retrocession of mining royalties does not go through the financial inspectors at the level of other municipalities. In reality, the distribution of beneficiaries of this retrocession is managed directly by the Ministry of Mines. However, Alingete recognizes that the problem lies in the fact that Likasi should benefit from this retrocession in the same way as other municipalities, but that this is not actually implemented.
Solutions for more transparency:
To resolve this problem of transparency in the management of the retrocession of mining royalties to Likasi, measures must be taken. It is essential to establish a clear and transparent mechanism for distributing the benefits of this fee, actively involving local authorities and guaranteeing their participation in the decision-making process. In addition, it is important to strengthen control and monitoring mechanisms for the use of these funds, in order to avoid any misuse or misappropriation.
Conclusion:
The question of transparency in the management of the retrocession of mining royalties to Likasi is essential to ensure equitable development of the municipality. It is crucial that the competent authorities take concrete measures to resolve this problem and ensure transparent management of these funds. By promoting the participation of local authorities and strengthening control mechanisms, Likasi will be able to fully benefit from its share of the retrocession of mining royalties, thus contributing to its economic and social development.