Dorothée Masirika, who has been dismissed from her post as provincial minister of finance, the economy, industry, the budget, trade, entrepreneurship and the civil service, has just broken her silence on the grievances brought against her by provincial governor Jean Jacques Purusi.
In a letter granting her right of reply, she sets out point by point, with assurance and supporting evidence, the shortcomings noted in the decision to dismiss her, in which she notes not only a political coup mounted against her, but also administrative carelessness on the part of the provincial authority.
- The suspension of the EPMEA Head of Division without first informing his superiors
Dorothée Masirika, recalled that this measure had been taken by the provincial authority in its Provincial Order N°24/249/GP/SK of 05/08/2024, on the proposal of the sectoral minister, after all the reports received both by her predecessors and by herself.
This decision, having been adopted by the Council of Ministers, is in no way binding on Dorothée Masirika, but rather on the provincial authority, which adopted it as part of its prerogatives.
- Soliciting a bank loan of US$5,000,000 in the name of the Province, without the prior knowledge of the Provincial Authority, the Provincial Assembly or the Provincial Council of Ministers.
Not admitting having committed such an act, Dorothée Masirika says she is ready and willing to face justice if it is true that she touched the amount mentioned in the decree putting an end to her functions.
- Authorisation to resume activities for the benefit of two mining companies operating in FIZI following insignificant payments into the Province’s coffers, thus bypassing the skills and efforts of the ad hoc group of experts set up for this purpose by the Provincial Government.
In Provincial Order no. 24/246/GP/SK of 18/07/2024, Dorothée Masirika recalled that the provincial authorities had suspended all mining activities throughout South Kivu Province, with the aim of putting things in order and enabling these companies to contribute to the development of South Kivu.
An ad-hoc committee (including certain members of the provincial government, provincial deputies, the Division des Mines, CAMI, SAEMAPE, CEEC, civil society, FEC and citizens’ movements) was subsequently set up to find compromises for the gradual resumption of activities.
The commission also included the provincial environmental coordinator and other mining experts.
The provincial authority appointed the provincial finance minister to take over from her colleague in charge of mines.
The provincial authorities had decided that, pending the outcome of negotiations, mining companies would pay between US$20,000 and US$30,000 and mining cooperatives between US$1,000 and US$5,000.
She points out that these provisional authorisations issued to mining operators did not put an end to negotiations with the Province, but authorised the provisional resumption of activities while negotiations continued. This was done and continues to be done for all operators, with the full knowledge of the ad-hoc committee.
The governor, who accuses Honorary Minister Masirika of having negotiated badly with two mining companies in Fizi, should remember that the ad hoc committee had negotiated with Bendera Mining for a whole day and the company was prepared to pay the sum of $1243,000 (one million two hundred and forty-three thousand US dollars), made up of $1. 000,000 as a penalty and USD 243,000 as other costs. However, when Bendera Mining approached the governor for a final decision, he decided to share his business card with the company by arranging a meeting for the following day without the members of the commission.
Clearly, Jean Jacques Purusi should be shedding some light on the matter, given that a Member of Parliament was one of the members of the ad hoc committee and of the delegation that went to meet him! It is time for the public to note that this is an imminently political issue!
- Unbeknownst to his superiors, ordering the Head of the Provincial Finance Division to register and authorise funds from petroleum products through No. 301/00/223/DIVFIN/SK/2024, his collective notification, an act that led to discontent within the Petroleum Club, thereby undermining the memorandum of understanding being negotiated between the latter body and the Provincial Government of South Kivu for the rehabilitation of provincial infrastructure and roads.
In this particular case, it will be recalled to provincial, national and international opinion that once again the provincial authority, by its Provincial Order no. 24/242/GP/SK of 18/07/2024 suspending public-private partnership contracts concluded between the Province and third parties, had suspended all PPP contracts in South Kivu Province, including the one with the oil companies, which is why negotiations are underway for a new signature, as stated in the order relieving me of my duties.
Article 2 of Order no. 24/242/GP/SK on the suspension of PPP contracts stipulates: ‘The relevant tax departments, each within its remit
will take over the collection of taxes that were previously allocated to the said
partnerships’. The Head of the Provincial Finance Division, the sector responsible for the reconstruction tax on imports, felt that, as in other cases where the PPPs had been suspended, it was essential that there should be just one agent responsible for collecting import statistics, which is normal in the spirit of the aforementioned Article 2, pending the conclusion of the next memorandum of understanding with the Province of South Kivu.
It should also be pointed out that this Agent was not the Authorising Officer for Revenue, and therefore could not draw up any collection notes, an act which, according to my understanding of grievance 4, could anger the Petroleum Club.
As proof of this, can we trace the collection notes that this Agent allegedly drew up? None. So what made the Agent angry?
- Appointing, placing and moving staff without the advice or authorisation of management; a practice that goes against the philosophy and policy of the Provincial Government.
Dorothée Masirika, who acknowledges having issued the relevant Order, says that she did so following the issue by the Provincial Authority of Provincial Order no. 24/244/GP/SK of 18/07/2024 suspending all the Heads of Division of the Provincial Directorate for Revenue Mobilisation and Management in South Kivu (DPMER-SK).
Article 2 of this order stipulates that: ‘During the period of their suspension, the interim managers will be appointed by the sectoral Minister’. Consequently, she said that she had not violated any rules.
- Delaying the implementation of draconian measures aimed at eliminating or reducing harassment and taxation to the detriment of the smallest vendors and traders, as well as mechanisms for eradicating fraudulent practices that encourage tax evasion, thus nullifying the vision and ambitions of the Provincial Government in its efforts to mobilise the resources necessary for the reconstruction and development of the Province.
The accused rejects this accusation in its entirety and exposes a plot against her person, asking the provincial authorities to present her with the measures decided by the Provincial Government, the implementation of which she has delayed.
On the other hand, Dorothée Masirika claims to have been relentlessly committed to the fight against economic and financial crime, and to the increase in revenue during the months of July and August, with results that merit a positive response on her part.
My record as head of the provincial finance ministry.
In her right of reply, she took the opportunity to present my record as head of the Ministry of Finance during the two-month period.
The strategies in question are:
- To renew dialogue with all the Province’s economic players in order to raise their awareness of the need to be fiscally responsible and to support the actions of the Provincial Government.
- To denounce and bring to justice the agents involved in the parallel network for the sale of high-value printed matter,
- Relaunch the DPMER restructuring plan in accordance with the guidelines of the provincial authorities;
- Increased mobilisation of the Province’s own revenue;
- Digitalising Provincial Public Services and the collection of taxes, duties and fees owed to the Province;
- Regular payment of salaries to Provincial Government employees.
