Lubumbashi, June 27th, 2022 (CPA).- The Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, welcomed Sunday in Lubumbashi, the body of the National Hero, Patrice Emery Lumumba, on his arrival at Luano airport, from of Kisangani, in the province of Tshopo. In his speech for the occasion, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, on behalf of the Congolese people, the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and on behalf of the government greeted the members of the Lumumba, Okito and Mpolo families as well as the members of the Head of State’s cabinet, who accompany the remains of the National Hero. « I came this Sunday, June 26th, 2022 to receive the remains of Patrice Emery Lumumba on Katanga soil in order to take him to Shilatembo, the place of the tragedy that occurred 61 years ago, » he said.
And to add: « Together with the current authorities of Haut-Katanga, accompanied by your children, members of the Okito and Mpolo families, guests and compatriots from all over the Republic, we will accompany you to the village of Shilatembo, in the territory of Kambove where, on January 17th, 1961, you lost your life to defend our independence, our freedom, our national sovereignty”.
For the Prime Minister, this historic moment marked by gravity and solemnity constitutes an essential turning point in the reappropriation of « our national memory ». Located 56 km from the copper capital, halfway on the Likasi road, Shilatembo is the village where Patrice Emery Lumumba was assassinated, with his companions in misfortune Maurice Mpolo and Okito, and where public tributes and a funeral wake will be organised.
Prime Minister Sama Lukonde was surrounded by Governor Jacques Kyabula Katwe and the President of the Provincial Assembly of Haut-Katanga, Michel Katabe, as well as deputies and provincial ministers joined by some national ministers, in particular the Minister of State for in charge of Regional Planning, Guy Loando Mboyo, as well as the Ministers in charge of Tourism, Modero Nsimba Matondo, in charge of Sports Serge Nkonde, in charge of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Mrs. Catherine Kathungu Furaha.
It should be recalled that the President of the National Assembly, Christophe Mboso, and the President of the Senate, Professor Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, represented the President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, at the tribute ceremonies to Lumumba, respectively in Onalua (his native village) and in Kisangani (his political city). The remains of Patric Emery Lumumba will return to the capital Kinshasa on Monday, for the final public tributes before the burial scheduled for June 30, National Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at Place de l’Echangeur. ACP/
