Congolese people offer prayers for NELSON MANDELA! By Pastor Elisée By’élongo Ish’éloke (KwaZulu-Natal Branch President of Union for Democracy and Social Progress –UDPS) Article published in Satyagraha Newspaper Page 4. July 2013 edition. As they celebrated the 53rd anniversary of the independence snatched on 30 June 1960 by Patrice Lumumba for the DRC, the Congolese community offered to pray earnestly for Madiba and the Rainbow Nation. The DRC diaspora who attended the debate-conference on “Democracy and non-violence in the context of Panafricanism”, were addressed by comrade Ela Gandhi of the Satyagraha and Mrs Usha Jevan on the eve of the DRC commemoration of its attainment of national as well as international sovereignty. Usha Jevan insisted that the need for peace is universal and efforts should be done to ensure peace starts from within. In a speech, Pastor Byelongo Elisée Isheloke summarised the history of Congo from the Congo free state era to the DRC via a period under which the Congo was considered to be a sole proprietorship of King Leopold II of Belgium. Patrice Lumumba was portrayed as an architect of, not only the freedom of Congo but, together with leaders of the calibre of Nkwameh Krumah, Sekou Toure and Nelson Mandela, as pioneers of a long journey to visionary Panafricanism. “Africa does not only need strong institutions, Africa also needs visionary leaders”, uttered Byelongo Isheloke, a KwaZulu-Natal president of Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). A lecture by Comrad Ela Gandhi epitomised the event by supporting Panafricanist ideology and calling upon the communities for unity, tolerance and positive nationalism. She said: “Non-violence resistance is based on faith in both humanity and in the ability of people to change”. Democracy should be protected by a number of legislations and systems in place. In the case of South Africa, “the regularity of informed elections, the bill of rights to safeguard basic freedoms as well as efforts to educate and inform the population are such instruments that sustain the democratic system in the Country and ensure there is adequate and effective recourse”. DRC has yet to see any freedom to be granted to the population let alone to politicians. The Psychological effect of the oppressed people of Africa undermines their ability to free themselves does the legacy of Steve Biko echoes to millions of African today. Earlier on the UDPS KZN branch has called the communities to socialise and ensure social cohesion and to fight divisive xenophobia. “Let us live as African, it is the only way to be free and live with dignity”, professed Thomas Sankara. The debate-conference speeches and lectures have become food for thought not only for the DRC diaspora in the venue but also for few South African participants. A question that was asked finds its relevance for us all: “How can we turn political energy into positive nationalism which can become a catalyst for world peace?”
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 19:21:37 +0000
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