Kinshasa, December 22nd, 2025 (CPA) – The official release of a new documentary film devoted to the vision and political legacy of Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba served as the backdrop on Monday in Kinshasa for a call to contemporary Congolese historians to embrace this tool for national political memory in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ‘We call on Congolese historians and researchers to embrace this 2 hour 39 minute documentary film on the vision and political legacy of Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, to perpetuate his political struggle and equip Congolese politicians to confront the imperialists who want to dominate the DRC because of their lack of history,’ said political analyst Freddy Mulumba. According to him, this cinematographic work constitutes an important foundation for the transmission of national political memory to future generations. ‘We invite them to write books to perpetuate the struggles of our giants who have marked the history of our country in order to give Congolese youth the benchmarks they need to develop an imagination for appropriation from an early age,’ he added. For his part, Paul Kapita, one of the 13 founding MPs of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and a comrade-in-arms of Étienne Tshisekedi, praised the bravery and political steadfastness of the illustrious deceased, recalling one of his recurring messages to his comrades: ‘banish fear’. ‘He was a man of integrity, simple, accessible to all and respectful. His values and his determination in the struggle need to be shared with the Congolese youth. He was under house arrest, imprisoned, arrested, relegated, poisoned and so much more, but he did not give up. He led an exceptional political life,’ said Paul Kapita.
The initiators of the project, Placide Nzazi Matobo, Daddy Kakasa Ndiongo and Martin Kitudi Baruani, said that this documentary traces the life of a charismatic leader who left a deep mark on the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo through his patriotic and political commitment. ‘This work, the result of two years of in-depth research and production, sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of the former Congolese Prime Minister’s personal journey, while painting a faithful portrait of his personality,’ they explained.
They added that the narrative-style film is enriched by testimonies from several authorities, dignitaries, journalists, political actors and university professors who witnessed or inherited the political thinking of Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba. ‘The broadcast of this documentary will enable Congolese people to discover and understand the life of a man whose values and ideas continue to influence political and patriotic debate in the DRC and Africa. The rigor and critical approach adopted in the making of the film enabled the selection of people who had been influenced by his vision, actions and values,’ they added.
The initiators also announced the continuation of this project through awareness-raising sessions in schools and universities across the country, with a view to promoting a model of society based on the leadership, patriotism and political vision embodied by Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba.
Finally, they invited any interested individuals or organizations to collaborate with them, saying they were open to comments and recommendations with a view to further improving this work of historical memory. Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba was a historic opponent and a major architect of the struggle for democracy in the DRC. Founder of the UDPS, he led a non-violent fight for the rule of law, at the cost of arrests and persecution, without ever renouncing his convictions. ACP/