Kinshasa lawmaker opposes second vote on interpellation of infrastructure minister

Provincial lawmaker Jared Phanzu has declared his refusal to participate in a second admissibility vote for his interpellation against Kinshasa's provincial minister of Infrastructure and Public Works. Phanzu asserts that articles 191 and 201 of the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly's internal regulations do not mandate such a secondary vote for an interpellation initiated from an oral question with debate.

Phanzu described the demand for a new vote as a "flagrant violation" of the assembly's rules, which he believes were misapplied in his case. He cited article 191, stating that the author of a question unsatisfied with the response can convert it into an interpellation under article 201. Phanzu maintains this conversion was done correctly during a plenary session before its official submission.

The elected representative for Bandalungwa views the requirement for a new presentation and admissibility vote as a "breach of current regulations." He stressed the importance of applying the internal rules "equitably and uniformly."

Consequently, Phanzu stated he would not comply with a procedure he perceives as an attempt to obstruct his parliamentary oversight duties. The lawmaker insists that his interpellation was processed according to the established procedures, and any deviation constitutes an improper application of the assembly's governing rules.