DRC: the six ethical obligations of members of the Government

Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers of State, Ministers Nearby, Deputy Ministers, Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, each member of the Ilunga Ilunkamba Government put the rope around their necks. They have indicated their support for the six ethical obligations and the sole sanction of resignation in the event of default.

It is a question of scrupulously respecting the Act of Ethical Commitment signed by everyone, this Wednesday, September 18, 2019, which is in line with fundamental values advocated by the Constitution, the laws and rules of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By signing this document, all members of the Government have demonstrated their dedication, honesty, integrity, fairness, dignity, impartiality and loyalty in dealing with their colleagues and the public.

According to the reading of the Act of Ethical Commitment by the Secretary General of the Government, they are obliged to comply with a series of obligations.

#RDC Voici le contenu de l'Acte d'engagement éthique des membres du Gouvernement @IIlunkamba signé ce mercredi 18 septembre 2019 ! Lecture faite par le secrétaire général du Gouvernement | @Presidence_RDC @PrimatureRDC @AssembleeN @senatrdc – Part 1 pic.twitter.com/yOCywr5i6G

— Eric Tshikuma (@erictshikuma) September 18, 2019

Six ethical obligations
Each member of the Government has undertaken to reserve for himself:

– To rule on any matter in which he has a direct or indirect personal interest. Conflict of interest.

– To carry out, by himself or through intermediaries, any professional commercial activity, mandate or paid service. Incompatibility.

– To disclose professional secrecy. Confidentiality.

– To use public property for personal purposes. Abuse of public resources.

#RDC L'Acte d'engagement éthique interdit à tout membre du Gvt @IIlunkamba de recevoir des cadeaux d'une valeur excédent CDF 350 000 de ceux qui sont en relation professionnelle avec lui directement ou indirectement. Obligation d'impartialité | @PrimatureRDC @Presidence_RDC pic.twitter.com/6JBxtm6koa

— Eric Tshikuma (@erictshikuma) September 18, 2019

– To receive gifts of a surplus value CDF 350,000 (Congolese francs) from those who are in a professional relationship with him (member of the Government) directly or indirectly. Impartiality.

– Comply with all articles of the Code of Conduct of the Public Service of the State in force since 2002.

A sanction, sword of Damocles
The penalty for non-compliance with any of these provisions is severe. The Ethical Commitment Agreement provides that the member of the Government concerned (defaulting) waives his or her mandate in the event that the breach is established.

It is here that the rigour of Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga will be applied to eject anyone who shines through the practice of anti-values that have polluted public institutions.

#RDC L'Acte d'engagement éthique prévoit que le membre du Gouvernement @IIlunkamba défaillant de ses obligations renonce à son mandat au cas où le manquement serait établi. #EpeeDeDamocles | @Presidence_RDC @PrimatureRDC @JeanineMabunda @AssembleeN @AlexisThambwe @senatrdc pic.twitter.com/5n4Xy5tL8W

— Eric Tshikuma (@erictshikuma) September 18, 2019

For the President of the Republic, the challenge is to moralize life within the State apparatus in order to have exemplary leaders who do not go to the Government with motivations to enrich themselves at the expense of the Nation’s interests. Hence the scope of the vision: « people first. »

What about advertising?
As for the publicity of this Act of Ethical Commitment, the members of the Government have undertaken to post a copy in their respective offices and to make the content accessible to members of their cabinets and administrations.

After signing the document, each party received a copy of the Code of Conduct for the Public Service of the State and an annex to the Code of Conduct for Members of the Government.

For any clarification on the obligations of this Code, the Act provides that a member of the Government wishing to obtain one should contact the Prime Minister’s Office.

The next step will be for all these members of the Government to sign a Performance Contract with the Prime Minister in order to facilitate the temporal evaluation of each other’s actions for appropriate sanctions, positive or negative as the case may be.

This bodes well for a new governance of the country based on results and the professional ethics of its leaders. This is the vision of the President of the Republic supported by the FCC-CACH Political Coalition and implemented by the Prime Minister.

Eric TSHIKUMA