Lumumba's place in DR Congo's history

Marking DRC at 50 devoid of the crucial element in its independence and the key link in understanding why the people of DRC are still impoversihed amidst plenty of natural resources, namely the legacy of Patrice Lumumba, is indeed one more tragedy in the already tragic history of that country. It happens that some philosophers were more popular outside their country, but there isn't a single reason for Lumumba not to occupy a place in the history of the DRC. Lumumba was inspiration not only to the Congolese, who had been dehumanized by the cruel rule of Belgium and its monstrous king, Leopold, but also to us Ethiopians who brag about being uncolonised and independent. Pan-Africanism is not just about waving flags and declaring independence. That is past and probably constitutes the initial phase of the emergence of pan-Africanism. Contemporary pan-Africanism should be linked with deconstructing poverty and under-development, a process which is impossible to achieve without freeing the continent from contemporary forms of colonization: namely neo-colonialism and market globalization. Herein lies the legacy of Patrice Lumumba, that fine son of Africa. Africa will rise!!