Recent news highlights a crucial issue regarding the care of municipal councilors in the city-province of Kinshasa. At the opening of the September 2024 session, Levi Mbuta, President of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa, made an urgent appeal to the provincial government to comply with the instruction of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralization and Customary Affairs, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo.
The hard work of municipal councilors, elected by the population during the December 2023 elections, deserves fair compensation to ensure their independence and dignity during the exercise of their functions. It is essential that the provincial government of Kinshasa take the necessary measures to guarantee the payment of the emoluments of municipal councilors, in accordance with the official directives of the VPM. This initiative will help consolidate decentralization at the grassroots, an essential pillar of local development.
The President of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa also stressed the importance of taking charge of the Provincial Assembly staff. As a budgetary authority, it is essential to ensure the payment of the necessary salaries and bonuses to ensure the proper functioning of the institution.
The municipal councilors, who have been demanding their emoluments and installation costs for several months, expressed their concerns during a protest march. Faced with this mobilization, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka met with the municipal councilors to discuss their demands. The government assured that it was working on this issue, and VPM Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo sent a telegram to the provincial governors to guarantee the care of the municipal councilors.
The issue of decentralization and the care of local actors is crucial to strengthen democratic and participatory governance. It is imperative that provincial and national authorities work closely together to implement these commitments and ensure the proper functioning of local institutions.
In conclusion, the issue of municipal councillors’ emoluments is a major challenge for consolidating local democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is essential that the provincial government of Kinshasa act responsibly and transparently to ensure the payment of the remuneration due to municipal councillors as well as to the staff of the Provincial Assembly. This approach will help to strengthen citizens’ confidence in local institutions and promote harmonious and equitable development throughout the country.
Clément MUAMBA