The moonwalk may have been perfected by late popstar, Michael Jackson, making millions cheer at the feat but there’s another man who’s proving that the dance step isn’t such a big move especially when it comes to the duality of footsteps.
Meet the Democratic Republic of Congo’s president, Joseph Kabila, all-time policy dancer, intending African “Big Boy” and dictator with a charm.
After the December 16 deadline elapsed and his popularity continued to decline, Joseph Kabila decided that a transitionary government in 2017 would come into play in to provide a softer landing as he finally decides to leave office but that plan to leave office may just be extended again and of course have its characteristics following closely – police attacks, internet shut down.
But that plan has already veered sideways. The death of Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, one of the most powerful opposition figures in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has put the delicate political compromise to ease Kabila out of power on pause.
In the wake of Tshisekedi’s passing, another screw has been thrown into the works and it seems like President Kabila has his dancing shoes on. The latest in the political drama that has rocked the Central African nation that is already on the edge of violence is the news coming from the budget minister, Pierre Kangudia, who said he doubts whether the country would be able to hold elections this year because there were no funds.
How much is exactly needed for the elections? The figure was put at $1.8 billion dollars, a jump from 2011 when the Independent National Electoral Commission (La Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante – CENI) budgeted $1 billion.
Kangudia told journalists at a press briefing in Congo, that the government coffers were empty and it would be “difficult to gather” the necessary funds. How and why over $1 billion dollars would be used to hold elections in a country of an estimated 77 million people is beyond me.
Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001, may use the logistical inabilities of his administration to his favour; which could mean that there might be no polls before 2018.
DRC is still a relatively poor state in the world, despite having mineral and other resources. The budget minister likened the nation’s treasury to an “empty saucepan with holes in it”.
More moonwalking from Kabila as he’s playing a new chess game in a move to remain in power. If he can’t amend the constitution to keep him in, then why not just empty or misappropriate the funds needed to bring in a new leader.
