UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
Today's Kinshasa's press offers abundant comments on the 2004 State budget submitted to the Parliament for approval, while the main headlines focus the proposed remunerations for President Joseph Kabila and his four Vice-Presidents. The papers also mention the concerns of the International Committee to Support the Transition (CIAT) regarding the electoral calendar, as well as a disagreement between the Transitional Government and the unions of civil servants [over salaries].
"The week beginning today, March 15, is crucial for the Transitional Government, which is to begin defending its 2004 State budget in the House of Representatives and Senate," L'OBSERVATEUR announces. Submitted a month ago, the proposed budget stands at 482.425 billion Congolese Francs in receipts and expenses (or roughly $US 1.117 million). The Minister of Budget discussed the details of the budget proposals during his last Saturday's news briefing. According to the paper, Mr François Mwamba said the draft budget was aimed at "consolidating macroeconomic stability, redirect public spending toward pro-poor (social) expenditures, as well as reunification and reconciliation expenses." All these adjustments have been introduced "with a view to the organisation of free and transparent elections within the timeframe prescribed by the [Transitional] Constitution," the Minister said.
On the salaries of Government officials and employees, the Minister said the proposed budget foresaw: for the Head of State, a monthly remuneration of up to 10,000 dollars; and for each of the four Vice-Presidents of the Republic, a $ 7,500 emolument per month. For the Speaker of the Lower House and the President of the Senate, an equal 5,000 monthly income was proposed. As for the Government employees, the proposed budget foresaw, starting from January, a 20% increase in the salaries of professors at public universities and colleges, and a 30% raise in the wages of the teachers at elementary, secondary and vocational schools. It is worth noting that the lowest paid civil servant would be paid a 10,000 Congolese Francs (or roughly 28 dollars).
"2004 budget unveiled," LE PHARE headlines. "Congolese are as from now informed on the remunerations of their leaders," announces FORUM DES AS, pleading for more attention to be given to social needs (education, health...). "Long neglected in previous budgets in favour of political categories, social needs deserve particular attention in order to bolster public confidence in - and commitment to - the process leading to elections. And above all in order to put everyone back at work," the paper writes.
"François Mwamba (Minister of Budget, from MLC) is yet to disclose the wages of the Ministers and Vice-Ministers, and those of the Heads of state-run enterprises, the Governor and Vice-Governor of the Central Bank, the high Magistrates," notes LA REFERENCE PLUS, adding that "one hopes these are the real figures, and that the beneficiaries will be entitled to these millions only - even if the millions are quoted in Congolese Francs." "The figures provided are provisional, for they have not yet received the approval of the budget authority: the Parliament," L'OBSERVATEUR notes.
"These figures (proposed as the wages of the President and his collaborators), about which several analysts continue to express reserves, totally deny speculations in Kinshasa that the Head of State is going to be paid $ 500,000 and each Vice-President,
$ 100,000 per month," LE POTENTIEL notes.
LE POTENTIEL also mentions a run-in between the Government and the unions of civil servants. "The civil servants demand that the Mbudi agreement be implemented in April 2003. According to Article 1 of that agreement, which was signed on February 12, the Government is committed to respecting the monthly salary base of up to 208 for the lowest paid and 2,080 dollars for the Secretary-General of the Public Administration." The civil servants demand a ministerial decree on this agreement, something to which the Government agreed during its meeting of March 12.
Meanwhile, LE PHARE indicates that "the International Committee to Support the Transition (CIAT) continues to be concerned about the delay recorded in the DRC Transition. As of March 2004, the Committee notes that eight months have been wasted on minor questions." This is an allusion to the CIAT's press statement released Friday 12, following its assessment meeting with the DRC President and his four Vice-Presidents.
On the salaries of Government officials and employees, the Minister said the proposed budget foresaw: for the Head of State, a monthly remuneration of up to 10,000 dollars; and for each of the four Vice-Presidents of the Republic, a $ 7,500 emolument per month. For the Speaker of the Lower House and the President of the Senate, an equal 5,000 monthly income was proposed. As for the Government employees, the proposed budget foresaw, starting from January, a 20% increase in the salaries of professors at public universities and colleges, and a 30% raise in the wages of the teachers at elementary, secondary and vocational schools. It is worth noting that the lowest paid civil servant would be paid a 10,000 Congolese Francs (or roughly 28 dollars).
"2004 budget unveiled," LE PHARE headlines. "Congolese are as from now informed on the remunerations of their leaders," announces FORUM DES AS, pleading for more attention to be given to social needs (education, health...). "Long neglected in previous budgets in favour of political categories, social needs deserve particular attention in order to bolster public confidence in - and commitment to - the process leading to elections. And above all in order to put everyone back at work," the paper writes.
"François Mwamba (Minister of Budget, from MLC) is yet to disclose the wages of the Ministers and Vice-Ministers, and those of the Heads of state-run enterprises, the Governor and Vice-Governor of the Central Bank, the high Magistrates," notes LA REFERENCE PLUS, adding that "one hopes these are the real figures, and that the beneficiaries will be entitled to these millions only - even if the millions are quoted in Congolese Francs." "The figures provided are provisional, for they have not yet received the approval of the budget authority: the Parliament," L'OBSERVATEUR notes.
"These figures (proposed as the wages of the President and his collaborators), about which several analysts continue to express reserves, totally deny speculations in Kinshasa that the Head of State is going to be paid $ 500,000 and each Vice-President,
$ 100,000 per month," LE POTENTIEL notes.
LE POTENTIEL also mentions a run-in between the Government and the unions of civil servants. "The civil servants demand that the Mbudi agreement be implemented in April 2003. According to Article 1 of that agreement, which was signed on February 12, the Government is committed to respecting the monthly salary base of up to 208 for the lowest paid and 2,080 dollars for the Secretary-General of the Public Administration." The civil servants demand a ministerial decree on this agreement, something to which the Government agreed during its meeting of March 12.
Meanwhile, LE PHARE indicates that "the International Committee to Support the Transition (CIAT) continues to be concerned about the delay recorded in the DRC Transition. As of March 2004, the Committee notes that eight months have been wasted on minor questions." This is an allusion to the CIAT's press statement released Friday 12, following its assessment meeting with the DRC President and his four Vice-Presidents.
