Delegation from the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Holds Meetings with Several Members of Standing Committees

As part of their ongoing visit to our country, a delegation from the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at the House, a series of meetings with several members of the standing committees of the House. The meetings tackled the experience of the Kingdom of Morocco in the area of women’s representation in the elected bodies, and public finance.

The first meeting took part between the members of the Congolese parliamentary delegation and the Deputy-chairperson of the Justice, Legislation and Human Rights Committee, Rep. Loubna Sgheiri, who presented the major constitutional and political reforms that took place in the Kingdom since its independence, especially the ones related to promoting women’s rights and advancing their representation in the elected bodies.

The Deputy-Chairperson of the Justice Committee confirmed, during the same meeting, attended also by the Committee members Rep. Aicha Zoulfa and Rep. Hind Ratl Bennani, that the gains achieved by the Kingdom in this area are mainly thanks to the resolute will of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the great concessions of the feminist movement to consolidate the position of women in society, their occupation of decision-making positions and the achievement of parity.

During the same meeting, Rep. Loubna Sgheiri gave an overview of the prerogatives of the House of Representatives under the 2011 Constitution in general, and of the Justice, Legislation and Human Rights Committee in particular. In this regard, she recalled the performance of the Committee during the last legislative term (2016-2021) and during the first session of the ongoing legislative term.

During the second meeting, which gathered the Congolese parliamentary delegation with the Secretary of the Finance and Economic Development Committee, Rep. Alae Eddine Bahraoui, tackled the roles entrusted to the Finance Committee at the level of legislation and control. The Secretary also highlighted the major milestones that marked the development of the Committee’s action since the 2011 Constitution.

During the same meeting, attended by Rep. Abderrahim Bouslim, a member of the Committee, Rep. Alae Eddine Bahraoui presented to the Congolese parliamentary delegation the organic law on the Finance Bill which enacts the elaboration of several reports that should be annexed to the Bill, especially the Report on Gender-based Budget, which highlights the budget spending on women, youth, children, vulnerable groups and with regard to employment.

The Secretary of the Committee also tackled the relation of the House of Representatives to some constitutional institutions, particularly the Court of Accounts.

The third meeting brought together the members of the Congolese parliamentary delegation with the Chairperson of the Public Finance Control Committee, Rep. Latifa Lablih, who presented the extensive prerogatives of the Moroccan Parliament with regard to public finance control.

In this regard, the Chairperson of the Committee noted that the Public Finance Control Committee was established in 2014, and undertakes the control and follow-up of public spending, the examination of thematic reports elaborated by the Court of Accounts, and the examination and vote on the Government and parliamentary bills relating to public finance control.

Rep. Latifa Lablih presented to the Congolese parliamentary delegation an overview of the performance of the Committee since its formation. In this respect, the Committee summoned 16 public institutions as part of the examination of the report of the Court of Accounts on public institutions and enterprises in Morocco, which culminated in recommendations that the Government has entirely approved.

During these meetings, the Head of the Congolese parliamentary delegation, Ms. Colette Tshomba Ntundu, recalled the distinguished ties linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Kingdom of Morocco, noting that this visit aims at studying and benefiting from the Moroccan experience in the area of women’s representation in the elected bodies, particularly the Parliament.

In this vein, Ms. Colette Tshomba Ntundu affirmed that the Congo will be working on the implementation of the positive discrimination principle in the future electoral code prior to the legislative elections to be held next year, in coordination with the Congolese political actors.

The Congolese parliamentary delegation is performing a working visit to our country until March 11 and involves, in addition to Ms. Colette Tshomba Ntundu, Rep. Jolie Yama Nzalabar, Rep. Valentine Gamoto Mateyase, Rep. Odette Mwamba Banza and Rep. Patrick Mangay Munvunga.