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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the reform of the Electoral Commission voted on Friday, June 4, by the National Assembly to try to ensure transparency in the next election, provoked the anger of Martin Fayulos and his ally Adolphe Muzito.
as reported from Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
The text had already been discussed upstream between the pro-Tshisekedi and the lieutenants of Joseph Kabila’s camp, today the opposition. Approved by the National Assembly’s Political, Administrative and Legal Commission (PAJ), it passed as a letter in the mail. An overwhelming majority of MEPs adopted it.
The main dispute concerns the composition of the election commission. Civil society does retain the presidency of the institution, but the pro-Tshisekedi majority gets four positions. Only two were reserved for the opposition. Then the fifteen members of the House, Ceni’s consultative body, will come from the president’s majority, four from the opposition and five from civil society.
In fact, political control has not been abolished, according to André Mbata, president of the National Assembly’s Political, Administrative and Legal Commission.
This pro-Tshisekedi deputy explains that Ceni “can not be completely depoliticized because it is by nature partly political”, he claims. Pro-Tshisekedi states that the law forces the politicians who will be appointed to no longer participate in their party’s activities. In form, they can not be forced to resign or to dictate.
Opponent Martin Fayuluden states “a coercion by Tshisekedi so that Parliament unilaterally votes for a tailor – made law to prepare for the 2023 election fraud”. He threatens to mobilize the street to protest this project. His ally, Adolphe Muzito, demands consensus. “We are open to discussions. It is not too late to correct, says Adolphe Muzito.
For the civic movement, Lucha, “this law” reinforces the politician’s choke over the polling station and defies all efforts for struggle and people, “explained Bienvenu Matumo, activist and one of the communicators.
Quiet at the moment in the Kabila camp. The religious denominations that militated for a Ceni without political actors have not yet spoken, but the UN’s position is clear. “I hope that the law on the reform of Ceni will strengthen its depoliticization, its independence, the transparency of the electoral process and the criminal law permissibility of anyone who does not follow the law in its leadership,” he said on Thursday, June 3. UN envoy to the country and head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita.
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