*Lumumba Presentation*
Chris Hani Institute, COSATU House, Johannesburg
17 January 2011
*Samuel Baka*
[Abstracted from his PowerPoint]
1. Introduction
2. Lumumba' s Historical and Political Struggle Background
3. Lumumba vis-à-vis Cold War
4. Imperialists' Plots Against Lumumba
5. African Development Agenda vis-à-vis Lumumba' s Legacy
6. Lumumba's Legacy for Africa in The DR Congo Context
7. Conclusion
*1. INTRODUCTION *
This is not an exhaustive presentation on Lumumba's life, political
PHILOSOPHY, STRUGGLE and ACTIVISM. This is a brief and informative
message about this Great Pan-Africanist and Nationalist who fought along
with his peers for our 'political' and 'economic' independence from the
imperialists or colonial rulers.
Anyone can ask:
* What motived Lumumba's political activism?
* What are the achievements of his political struggle?
* Is Lumumba' s political ideology, struggle and legacy still
inspiring African new generations and Leaders, 50 years after his
brutal assassination?
* What did we (Congolese & Africans) learnt from and done with his
legacy?
* What has been left out from his Legacy?
2. LUMUMBA' S HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL STRUGGLE BACKGROUND
Born on the 02^nd July 1925 in a Catholic family of four children, in
Onalua, Kasai province, Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo) and
He was from Batetela tribe. But moved to Leopoldville (Kinshasa) and
Stanleyville (Kisangani).
In his early age, his father sent him to a Roman Catholic Mission to get
education.
In 1955 [?], Lumumba moved to Protestant School. And was strongly
influenced by the ideas of the French Philosophers of the 18th century
such as Voltaire and Rousseau.
Lumumba started writing articles and poems to indicate or denounce the
colonial regime' s oppression and exploitation.
Lumumba then moved on to attend a postal worker's school.
Before his political activism, Lumumba worked as:
* A clerk with the local administration.
* The head of department in a brewery.
* And began with his political activities while working at the post
office.**
The following factors motivated Lumumba political activism or action:
* Voltaire and Rousseau's 'revolutionaries' philosophies.
* Colonial rulers oppression, repression and exploitation.
* The wave of African countries' resistance and struggle for
independence in the early 50s.
* President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana (The Influential Pan-African).
* Pan-Africanism and nationalism ideology [fight for the liberation
of colonial countries].
In 1955 Lumumba became regional president of the first Congolese Trade
Union of Government employees (The /Cercles des Evolues/)
He also became active in the Belgian Liberal Party in the Congo. After
traveling on a three-week study tour in Belgium.
In October 1958, he founded the Congolese National Movement (Mouvement
National Congolais; MNC), the first nationwide Congolese political party.
His political ideology as Pan-Africanist and Nationalist and his
Revolutionary struggle/combat was of "positive neutralism" of imperialism.
In December 1958, Lumumba and his comrades represented the MNC at the
*/All-African Peoples' Conference /*in Accra, Ghana. This was an
opportunity for him to build strong network with his peers. (Kwame
Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta)
In 1959 the Belgian government announced a five years programme intended
to lead to independence, starting with local elections in December 1959.
Lumumba and his movement regarded this programme as a threat to their
actions for independence and called for a boycott of the elections.
This boycott led to a clash between MNC members and the /Force de
l'Ordre/ in Stanleyville (Kisangani) on October 30; claiming 30 lives.
The MNC decided to shift strategies, entered the elections, and won a
sweeping victory in Stanleyville (90% of the votes).
In January 1960 the Belgian government convened a Round Table Conference
in Brussels of all Congolese parties to discuss political change, but
the MNC refused to participate without Lumumba.
The conference culminated on January 27 with a declaration of Congolese
independence setting June 30, 1960.
Although there was a multiplicity of parties, the MNC came out far ahead
in the elections, and Lumumba emerged as the leading nationalist
politician of the Belgian Congo.
There was a fear from Western powers, especially USA and Belgium, to see
the Soviet Union's hegemony in the Newly Independent Congo due to his
geo-strategic position and its natural resources.
Lumumba was victim of the cold war because of his relationship with
Soviet Union.
Imperialists managed to use local leaders (Joseph Kasa Vubu, Moise
Tshombe, Joseph Mobutu) to oppose Lumumba and than destabilised his
political ideology by supporting rebellion in the Katanga province and
create unrest in the country.
In this era of globalisation, the imperialism is still using our
'leaders' for their gain by oppression, exploiting and killing our
peoples (e.g. DR Congo, Sudan, etc.)
Lumumba speech on the Independence Day was not well received by
imperialists.
Lumumba's relationship with the Soviet Union was seen as a threat to
Western Powers or imperialists hegemony and control over Central Africa
region.
Imperialists capitalized on the above and decided to remove Lumumba
'politically and/or physically'.
Joseph Kasa Vubu, Moise Tshombe and Joseph Mobutu were used to fulfill
Imperialists' main goal.
Lumumba was dismissed as Prime Minister, Arrested, Tortured, humiliated
and brutally killed with the blessings of Imperialists and the /active
participation/ of local leaders.
Lumumba's legacy included:
* Nationalism and Pan-Africanism
* Self-dependency
* Integrity and Leadership
* Courage and Heroism (Self-determination)
* A United Africa
Che Guevara says:
"We must move forward, striking out tirelessly against imperialism. From
all over the world we have to learn lessons which events afford.
Lumumba's murder should be a lesson for all of us."
Knowing the abuses of imperialism, we need to stop its negative impacts
on our people and continent.
Therefore we must:
* Be unified.
* Have a clear Ideology and its expansion (Research, Curriculum,
Medias, etc.)
* Have self-confidence and Independence.
* Continue to teach and preach our communities about socialism and
communism values in the sense of */Ubuntu/* and */Togetherness/*to
add values on our struggle.
* Let's create and promote African and 'international' solidarity
platforms.
* Protect and promote Lumumba' s legacy and political ideology,
struggle and African Values.
The leadership in the DR Congo has compromised and is continuing to
compromise Lumumba's Legacy.
Impunity, Corruption and Mismanagement of public funds become a walk of
life.
Resistance to Imperialists / Capitalists does not exist.(Due to corrupt
Officials,Weak and Divided Trade Unions and CSOs, and poverty)
Illegal exploitation and Looting of DR Congo's natural resources by
Imperialists with complicity of selfish local leadership.
Repression and oppression on population and human rights activists.
Exploitation of workers.
Arbitrary detentions and Assassinations of whistleblowers.
Dis-functional and Corrupt Justice System.
Lack of a 'credible & unified' opposition to the regime.
As at Lumumba's time, today, imperialism in its multi-format (e.g.
Capitalism and Exploitation) is a challenge for us all. Yet, Lumumba and
his peers' struggle for our political and economic freedom.
As Imperialists are tirelessly working with the key objective of
dividing and exploiting our people and undermining our developmental
agenda; let's advocate for progressive policies and socio-economic
rights of our people.
Let's stand as one to fight imperialism, so that we can free ourselves
from slavery, exploitation, poverty and underdevelopment.
Let's capitalise from our Pan-African leaders' footsteps and
determination to save and free our generation and future generations
from Imperialism and capitalism.
**
**
*AMANDLA! *
*VIVA LUMUMBA'S LEGACY VIVA!*
*FORWARD COMMUNISM FORWARD!*
*VIVA AFRICAN UNITY VIVA!*
*A LUTTA CONTINUA!*
*THANK YOU*
**
**
*Mr. Samuel Baka*
*[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>***
*+27 72 117 3853*
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