Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 5 June 1997 — Page 4

The Muncie Times, June 5,1997, Page 4 MOBUTO from page 1 Zaire-American Language Institute at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa (Zaire’s capital),” he said. As political instability and violence increased, in 1994 a fearful Mulamba returned to the United States, where he sought permanent residency. Eventually, he was joined in Muncie by his wife and four of his five children. Mulamba has been teaching French, linguistics and an introductory course to African traditions at the Indiana Academy at Ball State. In August he will leave Ball State to join the Olivet Nazarene University, a 2,300-student institution in Kankakee, 111., about 40 miles south of Chicago. “It was a great joy to hear that Mobutu is out of Zaire. Because of Mobutu, many Zaire intellectuals are in exile in South Africa, the United States and elsewhere. It is good to know that he is gone,” said Mulamba. “When I was there in 1994, life was difficult for intellectuals. There were no jobs. If you said anything about democracy you were in trouble. I got in trouble for creating an association to teach young people about democracy.” Ilunga, Matuka and Mulamba are among many Zairian intellectuals who were overjoyed last month when Mobutu Sese Seko fled his beleaguered country for what is likely to be permanent exile. The discredited and tyrannical Mobutu had systematically

Yeno Matuko of the wealthiest men in the world. He has a fortune estimated in excess of $4 billion. He did not tolerate opposition and disliked intellectuals. The cancer-stricken Mobutu, who had once declarecfthat he would never surrender because he would rather be a “late president” than a “former president,” initially fled to Togo, but is expected to go on to Morocco and then France. As Mobutu sneaked off into a selfimposed exile, Laurent Desire Kabila claimed victory and the presidency. The man, who has been dismissed as a political lightweight 7 months ago when he announced his intention to topple Mobutu, could only declare. “I am

tyrannical rule was finally over. “I am very happy that Mobutu is finally gone. Since I was bom, he was the only president that I have known. For 32 of the 36 years that I have been alive, Mobutu has been president,” said Ilunga. “Now we have a chance for democracy. “I am very glad that during my life I have seen this happen. I have seen the end of the Mobutu presidency. When Mobutu was president, those in the government who were honest, who were not corrupt, were punished, while the corrupt ones were rewarded. That guy (Mobutu) also killed many of our parents. “I hope there will be a commission set up to track and punish Mobutu and his people for their crimes against Zaire. “May 16 was the happiest day of my life. That is the biggest joy I have ever had. It is like a dream come true. Intellectuals had no place in Mobutu’s government. Those who were educated in the United State were not welcome.

then going on to NPR (National Public Radio). I have been anxious to see what would happen next,” he said. “lamveiy happy that Mobutu is gone. Seven years ago, Mobutu announced that he was in favor of democracy, but he did nothing. He is a very cunning person. I never thought that he would relinquish power, unless he was forced to do so.” Matuka said he was part of a delegation that recently met with government officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss the potential for American investment in his country, which has abandoned the name Zaire in favor of its old one of the Congo. Mobutu changed the country’s name from Congo to Zaire, just as he changed his own name from Joseph Desire

looted and impoverished his country. happy, very happy, to succeed.” Dictator Mobutu, 66, had run Zaire It was a statement repeated almost single-handedly for 32 years, everywhere by Zairians who hoped that during which time he had become one their long nightmare under Mobutu’s

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Ilunga said at least now Kashama Mulamba she knows she can go home and visit, without fear of persecution. Mobutu to Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Similar sentiments were echoed by Ngebendu wa za Bnga, meaning he was Matuka. “Of course, I am very happy, the all powerful and conquering leader. I have been looking forward for this to Matuka said he is a supporter of the happen for a long time. There is a saying United Lumumbist Party, an anti-Mobutu in my language about a cat that terrorizes group made up of followers of Patrice the mice. Then one day the cat gets old Lumumba, who was assassinated shortly and the mice turn against it. Thirty-two after the country’s 1960 independence years is too long for a person to make from Belgium. Lumumba was the his people suffer so much. Congo’s first democratically elected “Mobutu robbed his people. Now prime minister, it is time to work together to put the He said the party has drawn up a country back together. Kabila is document listing the country’s inheriting a plundered country,” he said, development needs. It is tremendous Matuka said he has been so excited task, about the events back home that,he has Kabila is taking over a looted Central been missing out on his sleep. African country 45 million people spread “Sometimes I don’t sleep at all. over 905,063 square miles. But the Every day, from 5 a.m. I am awake country has tremendous natural listening to the news. I listen to the news resources, including gold, diamonds, on radio from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., starting cobalt and copper and could become with the Christian Science Monitor and an African economic power house.