DRC: the three distinctive signs of a government of « change »

[EDITO] – Entry of new figures, selection of skills and non-overcrowding. These are the three distinctive signs of a government of « change » expected by the Congolese people in the wave of alternation at the top of the state. In the opinion, the violins agree around this criterion.

If the people take their trouble, the government trainer and his interlocutors (Kabila and Tshisekedi) are pressed for time. They have interest in emptying the prerequisites of the investiture of the said government before the close of the ordinary session scheduled for June 15 in the National Assembly.

Indeed, it is clear that the coalition government will be composed only of the members of the Common Front for Congo (FCC) and Cap à l’changement (CACH). The exception to this rule will depend on the discretion of the Head of State, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi.

Never mind, the Congolese people’s expectations of the leaders of the government of change, dubbed by some « people’s government first », are clear.

Firstly, it is out of the question that the moral authorities and leaders of political parties who have made a career in successive governments be re-appointed and / or appointed. This change has the advantage of giving the opportunity to the competent and militant youth within these political formations to bring their new energies into the action of the national executive.

The renewal of the aging political class begins with the framing and promotion of the young political class, support actors of the civil society.

Secondly, competence should be a determining factor in the choice of the leaders of the ministerial positions. Because, say some analysts, this government will have more obligations of results in its action than it is important to have effective men.

The « code of good conduct » advocated by the head of state, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, civil society actors propose a « performance contract » to submit to all members of the government. These are the two documents that will accompany the roadmap for each of them and on the basis of which the sequential evaluation of their actions will be carried out.

Finally, « People’s Government First » should not be bloated. With more than 50 members, it will be budgeted in a context where the national executive is expected to rationalize spending and mobilize more funds for growth-enhancing investments.

Savvy economists have shown in their analyzes that bloated governments in the DRC have often been not only budget-conscious but also less effective. A « plethoric » government of representativeness and satisfaction of the needs of political party leaders hampers the development of the DRC.
Should we continue with this momentum or stop it at this moment when the country is starting a new beginning?

That no. Recent political history indicates that Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon led a government of 37 members, including himself.

Putting aside political party leaders and other government careerists, the current head of government, Ilunga Ilunkamba, and his bosses from the FCC-CACH coalition, would do useful work inspired by the government’s Matata 1.

Eric TSHIKUMA