WHY SPEECH LEFT LUMUMBA A MARKED MAN!

As the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates 64 years of independence, it also remembers the country’s first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. He remains one of the most enduring national heroes and Pan-African icons. Lumumba was a leading member of the Congolese independence movement, who entered the history books on 30th June, 1960. That was the day that Belgian Congo - as it was then known - broke away from Belgian colonial rule.

In the presence of Belgium’s King Baudouin, Lumumba, 34 years old, made a gutsy, scathing speech, accusing the former colonial masters of treachery and forcing ‘humiliating slavery’ on the Congolese people. The speech caused fear among the Europeans. They were concerned that anti-White vengeance would be the main theme of Lumumba’s administration. Hence, they started plotting to assassinate him. This is why most historians believe Lumumba was a marked man from the moment he made this speech.