The Democratic Republic of Congo's Agriculture Minister, Muhindo Nzangi Butondo, is facing a motion of no confidence over the alleged mismanagement of the Programme d'entrepreneuriat des jeunes dans l'agriculture et l'agro-business (PEJAB). The program, which was launched to promote agricultural entrepreneurship among young people, has been marred by controversy, with allegations of delays in the disbursement of funds and equipment.
According to a letter dated November 25, 2025, the President's office was alerted to the problems with the program, with the Director of the President's cabinet, Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, urging Nzangi to take measures to resolve the issues. The letter was a follow-up to a complaint by the PEJAB coordinator, who had approached the President's office on October 13, 2025.
The problems with the PEJAB program have been ongoing, with young entrepreneurs taking to social media to express their frustration over the non-availability of equipment and delays in the disbursement of funds. In response, Nzangi assured parliament that the funds were available and had been disbursed progressively, with 1,107 young people having already benefited from the program.
However, Nzangi's explanations were deemed insufficient by some lawmakers, who questioned the slow pace of implementation and the utilization of the $57.1 million allocated to the program. The Deputy, Hermione Bolumbe Bakando, who initiated the motion of no confidence, claimed that Nzangi's responses did not address the concerns raised by the youth entrepreneurs.
Bolumbe also alleged that there was a diversion of funds, citing the President's office letter, which she claimed showed that Nzangi had been warned about the problems with the program. However, the letter only mentioned delays in implementation and complaints from beneficiaries, without establishing any diversion of funds.
The motion of no confidence, which was registered on October 23, 2026, is based on articles 146 and 147 of the Constitution. If successful, it could lead to Nzangi's removal from office. The developments have raised concerns about the credibility of the government's actions and the management of public funds.
The PEJAB program, which is financed by the African Development Bank (BAD), aims to promote agricultural entrepreneurship among young people in the DRC. With the program facing controversy and allegations of mismanagement, the government will have to address the concerns raised and provide clarity on the utilization of the funds allocated to the program.
Key points
- The DRC Agriculture Minister faces a motion of no confidence over alleged mismanagement of the PEJAB program.
- The program, financed by the African Development Bank, aims to promote agricultural entrepreneurship among young people.
- The controversy surrounding the program has raised concerns about the credibility of the government's actions and the management of public funds.
