- Title: CONGO-KINSHASA: PARTY ANNIVERSARY PARADE IN KINSHASA
- Date: 29th May 1969
- Summary: YOUTH WING MEMBERS MARCH; GUESTS PARTY MEMBERS MARCH; GOVERNOR SPEAKS; DRUMMERS AND DANCERS PERFORMS; CROWD. Initials PK/VS/JF/SS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th June 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KINSHASA, CONGO-KINSHASA
- City:
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Reuters ID: LVAAH1TZA05ZTV4A1SX2W4SJU1XX
- Story Text: THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF CONGO-KINSHASA'S POPULAR MOVEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION (M.P.R.) WAS CELEBRATED RECENTLY WITH A MASSED MARCH BY YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE PARTY. THE M.P.R. WAS FOUNDED BY PRESIDENT MOBUTU, AS THE RULING PARTY.
MAIN FOCAL POINT OF THE CELEBRATIONS WAS KISANGANI, BUT THE CAPITAL OF KINSHASA WAS WELL TO THE FORE IN DEMONSTRATING ITS SUPPORT AT THE CITY'S TATA RAPHAEL STADIUM.
THEME OF THE CELEBRATIONIS WAS THE SUCCESS OF THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO CREATE A NATIONWIDE ORGANISATION FOR THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE THAT WOULD SERVE AS A VAST MOVEMENT OF CIVIC RECONSTRUCTION.
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PARTY AND ITS YOUTH WING MARCHED WITH BANNERS FOR TWO HOURS, WATCHED BY GOVERNOR NAUWELAERTS, ATTENDING ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT MOBUTU.
ADDRESSING THE CROWD, HE OUTLINED THE RECORD OF RESULTS ACHIEVED DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS.
PRESIDENT MOBUTU, WHO SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODLESS COUP IN NOVEMBER, 1965, FORMED THE M.P.R. ON MAY THE 20TH, 1967, AT NSELE, THE PRESIDENT'S SUMMER RESIDENCE 20 MILES (32 KMS) FROM KINSHASA. BEFORE THEN, ALL POLITICAL PARTIES WERE BANNED.
THE PARTY'S IDEOLOGY IS BASED ON NATIONALISM AND IT CLAIMS TO HAVE ISSUED MORE THAN 135,000 MEMBERSHIP CARDS IN KINSHASA AND ESTABLISHED AT LEAST 1,150 LOCAL COMMITTEES.
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