La Fatshimetrie, October 24, 2024 edition – The parliamentary day at the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa was marked by an unexpected postponement of the validation of the mandates of six substitutes, following the incidental motion issued by provincial deputy Steve Mulumba Kongolo. This decision gave rise to an adjournment of the matter until October 29, thus raising questions within the political sphere of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nicolas Wemakoy, President of the Politico-Administrative and Legal Commission of the APK, was led to comment on this situation by indicating that the file of the substitutes required a thorough examination by the Special Commission previously created for this purpose. This approach was aimed at ensuring rigorous management of these particular cases, thus emphasizing the desire of the Provincial Assembly to carry out this process in compliance with established procedures.
In this context, three categories of cases have been identified and deserve special attention. The first concerns the dispute between the Alliance of Progressive Congolese (ACP) and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), which resulted in the recognition of Séverine Moliba as the elected provincial deputy of N’sele to replace Clovis Mwamalele. The second concerns the deputies who opted for senatorial mandates, while the third concerns the deputies who chose to occupy ministerial positions within the provincial government.
This postponement of the validation of the mandates of the substitutes thus postponed the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa, which wanted to display the completeness of its numbers, with 48 deputies in office. During the plenary session, three items were on the agenda: the adoption of the agenda, the validation of the minutes and the confirmation of the powers of the six substitutes expected to sit in the deliberative body of the capital, to replace the deputies who opted for other mandates or who were invalidated by the Council of State.
This situation demonstrates the complexity and challenges of parliamentary governance, highlighting the need for informed decision-making and compliance with established rules. The Kinshasa Provincial Assembly is thus demonstrating its desire to fulfill its democratic role and ensure the legitimacy of its members, with a concern for transparency and integrity.
This episode illustrates the richness and diversity of political debates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the importance of control and validation mechanisms within representative institutions. It highlights the complexity of the processes for appointing and replacing elected representatives, as well as the challenges inherent in managing conflicts of interest and political disputes. The Kinshasa Provincial Assembly is thus positioned at the heart of these issues, embodying the dynamism and specificities of the Congolese political scene.