DR Congo:National Assembly Leadership Finally In Place

May 26, 2024

By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman

After several days of negotiation between the national deputies of the Union sacrée de la Nation, close to the government, and those of the opposition, concerning candidates for the various posts, the seven members who make up the final bureau of the National Assembly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were finally elected and installed last Thursday, May 23, 2024. They include three women and four men. They will lead the Assembly during President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo's second five-year term.

This definitive office will now be headed by Vital Kamerhe, who received 371 votes, against 37 invalid and blank ballots. Vital Kamerhe, 65, a leading figure in Congolese politics, is returning to a post he held from 2006 to 2009, under President Joseph Kabila.

For his part, Paul Tshilumbayi was elected First Vice-President of the Lower House of Parliament, a first in his political career, with 368 votes out of 405 cast.

In third place, Christophe Mboso N'kodia was elected second vice-president with 379 votes out of 405 cast. Mboso N'kodia was president of the lower house of parliament during President Tshisekedi's first term, and then president of the age committee this year.

Jacques N'djoli was proclaimed rapporteur with 385 votes out of 405 cast. Jacques N'djoli is a first-time member of the National Assembly's bureau, having been elected as a national deputy several times.

Jacques Nd'joli will be assisted by Dominique Munongo, from the opposition Moïse Katumbi wing, who was elected deputy rapporteur with 203 votes out of 404 cast. He was opposed by Constant Mutamba, who fared no better. It is also a first for Munongo to reach this position on the final board.

Chimène Polipoli Lunda was elected Quaestor of the National Assembly in her first year as a member of the National Assembly. She will be assisted by Grace Neema, elected Deputy Quaestor.

The population has high expectations of this legislature

Following the elections and the installation of the final bureau of the National Assembly, many of the people contacted said they had high expectations of this legislature.

"Five months have passed since the presidential and parliamentary elections were held in our country. But a lot of time has been wasted unnecessarily. What I'm waiting for is the swift investiture of the new government that Prime Minister Judith Tuluka is going to publish", says Jacques Nkundu, a secondary school teacher.

For her part, Hélène Muntu, a nurse, calls on the final bureau of the National Assembly to program subjects that will improve the social well-being of the Congolese population. "No more jokes this time", she insists.

"For me, the definitive bureau and the National Assembly must really carry out parliamentary controls. We'll also have to question members of the government if there's a situation likely to damage the lives of our compatriots", says François Mpio, a student.