Zimbabwe shares in the dream of Lumumba

Kuthula Matshazi

PATRICE Lumumba was the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1960 when Belgium cosmetically granted the vast mineral rich Central African country permission to hold democratic general elections.

Unfortunately, the great son of Congo was never to live beyond the first year of independence when he was brutally and systematically murdered in a scheme orchestrated by Belgium and its Western countries allies especially the United States.

It is reported that his body was chopped into pieces and burnt for the sole reason of his spirited desire to demand full Congolese liberation.

The Western countries had economic interests in the vast Central African country and only wanted to offer Congo fictitious independence and still retain the country’s wealth and mineral resources.

The rogue colonialists used Joseph Mobutu, who went on to become an infamous corrupt and brutal dictator, to coordinate the gruesome murder of Lumumba. Mobutu backstabbed his trusting colleague Lumumba who had appointed him chief of the army.

Towards his ouster, Lumumba was gruesomely tortured and subjected to all sorts of abuse like being subjected to house arrest and forced to flee for his safety and that of his family. Lumumba wanted to deliver sovereignty to his country that some of us in Zimbabwe either through ignorance or mere bias downplay its important.

Well then, when Lumumba was finally murdered and the new state of Congo ceded its sovereignty to the colonisers through their proxy murderous Mobutu, the result was the vicious rule that has left about 3 million people dead.

As we celebrate the imminent holding of the first general elections in four decades we reflect on Lumumba’s prophetic prediction amid his persecution that one day Congo would be free and would be returned to its rightful owners.

In June 2006, the people of this great country will be heading to the polls to choose a new government that will further unite the country as the great African patriot Lumumba predicted.

Zimbabwe joins the people of DRC in celebrating their emancipation from the shuttles of colonial interests that gripped them for well over three decades.

Zimbabwe stands proud in this new emerging era since we were instrumental in securing an environment within which our fellow Africans could establish and chart their course to full independence, unity and peace.

At the time we intervened in the DRC, those whom we had thwarted their efforts to continue to loot DRC resources called us all sorts of names.

The criticisms were justified in all sorts of classical neo-liberal “Washington Consensus” terms, which ultimately formed the basis upon which the International Monetary Fund could deny Zimbabwe development assistance.

Many of us failed to unpack this whole neo-liberal discourse to realise that the majority shareholders of the IMF, the United States and its allies had a great economic interests to lose should the country be delivered to its rightful owners.

For as long as the brutal tyrannical Mobutu was there he would be securing their economic interests.

By dethroning the brutal dictator Mobutu, the late Laurent Kabila set a stage for the transition to a democratic process.

His son, Joseph has carried on the process despite gloomy predictions by perennial pessimists that he would not chart a course to hold democratic elections.

The pessimism stemmed from the exaggerated belief that African leaders are dictators when in fact it’s only those few Western installed and supported rogues that preserved their masters’ interests epitomised by the brutal Mobutu.

The dictator should have been alive to see the people of DRC pursue and embrace political progress!

Of course there are still many challenges that await the DRC like the war in the Eastern Region where President Kabila has indicated strong desire to end it.

On the other hand it is heartening to know that the various leaders of other political parties have indicated their deep commitment to establishing a democratic and united state free of violence for their citizens.

In hindsight, many people including Nelson Mandela, who was indifferent to Zimbabwe’s timely intervention, now apparently understand the stakes involved in having a liberated, peaceful and democratic DRC. Ironically, SA is now establishing markets and businesses in the DRC despite hesitancy by Mandela to engage in the DRC liberation war.

The invaluable military assistance that Zimbabwe rendered to DRC is similar to that which Mozambique and Zambia extended to Zimbabwe during our liberation war.

Like Zambia and Mozambique our brothers and sisters in the DRC would remember us along side the Angolans and the Namibians for the great sacrifice we undertook.

The African Union and the Southern African Development Community both played a very critical role in bringing about this great period which Lumumba prophesised.

Our gallant sons in both the Zimbabwe military and other African nations forces’ died for this noble cause and we are now, as Africans, observing the results of their ultimate sacrifices.

We salute them and in the spirit of the great son of Congo and a great African Patriot Lumumba we say long live their spirits.

Our individual leaders in the region and in other parts of Africa who have been demonised by agents of colonialists for seeking to establish peace and democracy for our fellow Africans, we salute them too!

The ratified constitution establishes a clause that allows for a President to rule for two terms of five years; the President would have to share his authority with a Prime Minister he or she chooses from the largest party in parliament.

Free primary education would be mandatory and there would be an establishment of decentralised provincial authorities responsible for decision-making and controlling 40 percent of public funds in the enlarged number of provinces.

The constitution also contains a clause that stipulates gender parity in the composition of organs of the state making it possibly the only country in the world with such a clause. Long live the vision of the great son of Congo and Africa, Patrice Lumumba!!