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Raymond Kahungu Mbemba

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Raymond Kahungu Mbemba
Picture of Raymond Mbemba Kahungu
Born7 May 1960

Raymond Kahungu Mbemba (born 7 May 1960) is a Congolese politician and businessman in the commune of Ngiri-Ngiri in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was nicknamed Ya Ray, Marshal, or El Commandante.

He is founder and general coordinator of an anti-system citizen movement, Place au Peuple, and several other Congolese civil society associations.

Early life

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Son of Innocent Kahungu Mbemba and Louise Lukuku Matemba, both from the Pelende Nord community in Kenge, Kwango, Raymond Kahungu is the eldest in a Catholic family of three brothers and four sisters. After training as a shorthand typist at the Saint Raphael Commercial School in Kinshasa, Innocent worked as a clerk typist at the Kinshasa general hospital. A stay-at-home mother, Louise received primary education at the NGI Catholic in Kenge.

The Kahungu family moved to the commune of Kasa-Vubu, then to the town of Lemba, where Raymond was baptized at the Saint Augustin church, and then to Yolo Sud in the commune of Kalamu before settling.

Raymond Kahungu is married and is a father of 3 sons and 3 daughters.

Education

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Raymond Kahungu was at school at the Official Primary School of Limete in 1966. He then enrolled in the first year of the Orientation Cycle at the Mountain Institute (KILIMANI) in Kintambo with the Brothers of the Christian schools and in the second year at the Saint Charles Lwanga Minor Seminary in Kalonda in the diocese of Kenge. He obtained his State Diploma at the end of secondary studies in the literary section, option Latin and Philosophy, in 1978. After having passed the entrance exam to the National School of Finance of Zaire, he began studies in public finances. He graduated with a degree in Budget and Public Accounting in 1984.

Two years later, after a stint at the National School of Finance as Librarian and at the General Inspectorate of Finance as Project Manager, he was admitted by competitive examination to the National School of Treasury Services of France (1986). He took several courses, notably on Public Debt Management (1988) and Economic Analysis (1989) at the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris.

Career

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His career (1984–1994) ended at the Studies and Planning Unit of the Treasury Department. Raymond Kahungu was elected President of the Union Delegation of the Ministry of Finance while he was on his return to the country. He became one of the members of the Public Service Union Delegation. He took part in the consultations organized by Marshal Mobutu in 1990 to achieve democratic opening. With the collaboration of other civil servants and students, he created the Jeunesse Actuelle association. A few months after the ouster of Étienne Tshisekedi from the prime ministership, an order from the Minister of Civil Service illegally retired him at the age of 34.

Political career

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Until his retirement order, Raymond Kahungu worked within the UDPS. In 1984, Raymond Kahungu was frequenting UDPS circles through Hubert Mbongopasi Muresem, who was excluded from the National University of Zaire, for his participation in the first public meeting of the UDPS.

He participates in the meetings of his housing unit of the Uele District. Following the reforms of the Bondeko Conclave in 1995, notably the creation of the position of Secretary General of the Party, Raymond Kahungu was designated National Secretary for Youth Movements of the UDPS.

Movements

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For the 2011 elections, among the matters on the agenda are the nomination of the party candidate for the election presidential or campaign slogan. Raymond Kahungu, with Jean-Marie Vianney Kabukanyi, proposed the campaign slogan "Le Peuple D'Abord".

Starting with the trade union movement, which led him to participate in the work of the Sovereign National Conference, Raymond subsequently created dozens of non-profit organizations and NGOs. He is the founder of the anti-system citizen movement called Place au Peuple.

Conflict with Laurent-Désiré Kabila

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The discontent in the country forced Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko, "bulwark against communism", to authorize multipartyism in 1990. In 1996, the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, the armed wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front and Uganda, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, joined. Less than a year later, he took power in Kinshasa on 17 May 1997, thus forcing Mobutu to leave power. As soon as it took power, it reinstated the establishment of the Committees of Popular Powers. People took to the streets to protest against this decision. The first demonstration was organized on 28 May 1997, just ten days after the entry of Kabila's troops. Also, on 30 June, DRC's Independence Day, there were street demonstrations.

For several decades, "VIVA" was chanted in Angola and in certain countries against apartheid in southern Africa and even in the Maghreb. On 28 May 1997, UDPS demonstrators were surrounded by foreign troops who brought Kabila to power on the Boulevard du 30 Juin in Kinshasa between the central station and the CENI. Raymond cried the chant in front of Angolan troops and others. The crowd took it up in chorus. The military asked to speak with JUDPS officials. The military cleared the way to let the demonstration take place. But, in Kauka on Avenue Victoire, the march was violently dispersed by the kadogos.

Aftermath

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The CEREPRO Study Office (Cercle of Reflections and Prospective Studies of the UDPS), of which Raymond Kahungu was the Deputy General Treasurer, suggested the creation of the post of Secretary General, whose mission will be the daily management of the party. CEREPRO suggests to the founders to meet in Congress to comply with the conditions of modifications provided for by the Party Statutes. The holding of the Bondeko Conclave of 1995 was later done; it introduced the position of Secretary General into the structure of UDPS. Until 1995, the UDPS was organized under a structure called JUDPS (Youth of the UDPS). After the Conclave of the founders of the Bondeko Center Party in 1995, and on the proposal of CEREPRO, the Secretary General of the Party decided on the name UDPS Youth Movements. Two years later, the participants adopted the proposal of Raymond Kahungu.

On 15 August 1992, the Sovereign National Conference, through its 2,500 delegates from all the 11 provinces of the country at the time, elected Étienne Tshisekedi Wa Mulumba, president of the UDPS, to the post of Prime Minister and head of government. The CNS charged him with preparing for the Third Republic over a period of 2 years.

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References

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