Patrice Hemery Lumumba was a renowned leader of the 19th Century in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He fought for independence and was recognized as the leader of the Congo National Movement Party. During the struggle for independence, Lumumba was arrested, detained, and imprisoned severally by the Belgium colonial administration, and many allegations were made against him including embezzlement of funds, and inciting the public to engage in riots.
Moreover, he worked in collaboration with other African leaders who were fighting for the independence of their respective countries as well.
"The day will come when history will speak. Africa will write its own history…it will be a history of glory and dignity." ~ Patrice Emery Lumumba.
Together, the leaders formed an organization through which they could meet regularly and set goals to help them in their pursuit of independence. When elections were conducted in the year 1959, Lumumba’s party won massively although he was still in prison. The other members of the party refused to hold any discussions with the Belgium government until Lumumba was freed from prison. He later became the first Prime Minister after Congo won its independence from the Belgium colonial rule.
During his short tenure as Prime minister, Lumumba faced opposition from part of the army which leaned on the Belgium government side. Another rival who did not support Lumumba's leadership was Moise Tshombe who proclaimed the Katanga Province and sought to withdraw the mineral-rich region from the DRC Congo.
“I am not a Communist. The colonialists have campaigned against me throughout the country because I am revolutionary and demand the abolition of the colonial regime, which ignored our human dignity. They look upon me as a Communist because I refused to be bribed by the imperialists.” ~ Patrice Hemery Lumumba.
Lumumba refused to comply with the Belgians who wanted to just install black leaders but remain in control of essential matters such as running the country’s economy. Lumumba was against neo-colonialism. He often spoke fearlessly of the injustices, oppression, and exploitation that the Congo people had faced under the Belgian rule, including the taking of the land that belonged to the Congolese people. His speeches offended the Belgians which made them plot to assassinate him.
His leadership came to an end when he was brutally killed in 1961. Indeed, it is evident that Patrice Emery Lumumba was a great leader who fought for the rights of the Congolese people, a true African hero.
Author: David Katana
Content Writer, Certified Digital Marketer, & Social Media Strategist,
CEO, DAVEC Marketing Agency,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Sources
1.Thenewblackmagazine.com
2.“Murder in the Congo: The tragedy of Patrice Lumumba.” Thegatvolblogger (WordPress)
