In an official press release published this Friday, September 29, 2023, the president of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa, Godé Mpoy Kadima, announced that the solemn opening ceremony of the September Ordinary Session will not take place in person due to the lack of means. This decision was taken to show solidarity with the other Provincial Assemblies of the country which are facing a worrying financial situation, with more than four months of unpaid emoluments and operating costs.
The president of the Kinshasa parliament also informed his colleagues of his trip to Paris for medical reasons. He clarified that this trip had been planned for three months and that he had postponed his medical leave in order to be able to open the session. However, due to the urgency of his medical situation, he made the decision to take this leave immediately after the session opened.
In accordance with the law governing the free administration of the provinces, the president of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa declared the opening of the ordinary session of September 2023 remotely. He expressed the hope that this last parliamentary session of the mandate would be an opportunity for harmony, unity and love, with the sole objective of the happiness of the inhabitants of Kinshasa.
This decision to hold the opening ceremony of the session remotely highlights the financial difficulties facing the country’s provincial institutions. While budget development is essential to ensure the functioning of the provinces and meet the needs of the populations, the precarious financial situation compromises the achievement of these objectives.
It is essential that measures are taken to resolve this financial crisis and guarantee the proper functioning of provincial institutions. It is imperative to find lasting solutions to ensure the payment of emoluments and operating costs of provincial assemblies, in order to maintain their proper functioning and their capacity to serve the interests of citizens.
The current situation also highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. It is essential that funds allocated to provincial institutions are used efficiently and transparently, in the interest of citizens and the development of the province.
In conclusion, the decision to hold the opening ceremony of the September ordinary session remotely reflects the financial difficulties facing provincial assemblies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is crucial to find lasting solutions to resolve this financial crisis, ensure the proper functioning of provincial institutions and meet the needs of the populations.. Transparency and accountability in the management of public resources must be strengthened in order to guarantee their optimal use and promote the development of the Congolese provinces.