Olivier Kamitatu the former President of DRC’s National Assembly has provoked widespread debate in the country after proposing for a switch to federal state.
Kamitatu emphasized that the centralized governance structure of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has failed to address the challenges facing the country, including natural resource management, poverty, and armed conflict.
Some of the country’s political actors have welcomed the proposal arguing it is the best plan to boost the country’s development, however, those opposing this proposal say that the DRC in its current state, cannot afford such a reform.
Daniel Mukoko Samba the Vice President also Minister of the National Economy, noted that government priority should be first restoring the integrity of the national territory.
He said during a press briefing on April 14 that it is preferable to continue operating the country in its current state, as provided for in the February 2006 constitution.
“I think the timing is a bit suspect to talk about federalism. The author of this idea, Kamitatu, should remember the debate that took place before the adoption of the new constitution around the need to prioritize the current institutional form, that is, the highly decentralized unitary state.
“This debate was heated, particularly on the question of unitary and federalist politics. When he thinks about writing his memoirs, he might be able to retrace our steps, immerse us in that room where the debate took place, the pros and cons that led to the creation of the constitution we have today, which advocates a unitary and largely decentralized state,” said Mukoko.
He added, “The debate on the form of the state may return later. This tendency to want to shut ourselves off from each other is not national unity, and it’s simply not the time to open this debate,” Daniel Mukoko said.
Furthermore, Professor Daniel Mukoko Samba is surprised to see someone who once suggested strengthening the powers of the central executive by abolishing the position of prime minister now return with an initiative on federalism.