Cléophas Kamitatu
| Cléophas Kamitatu | |
|---|---|
| Minister of the Interior of Congo-Léopoldville | |
|
In office July 1962 – April 1963 |
|
| President | Joseph Kasa-Vubu |
| Preceded by | Christophe Gbenye |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1931 Kilamba, Katanga Province, Belgian Congo (Now Congo-Kinshasa) |
| Died | 12 October 2008 (aged 77) South Africa |
| Political party |
Parti Solidaire Africain Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution Parti démocrate et social chrétien |
| Spouse(s) | Marie-José Mafuta Mingi |
| Children | Olivier Kamitatu Etsu |
Cléophas Kamitatu Massamba (June 1931 – 12 October 2008) was a Congolese politician and leader of the Parti Solidaire Africain.
Cléophas Kamitatu was born in June 1931 in Kilamba, Katanga Province, Belgian Congo. He received his education from Jesuits. In 1958 he helped establish the Parti Solidaire Africain (PSA) with Antoine Gizenga. Kamitatu represented the party's rural membership and its Léopoldville constituents. His leadership of the moderates in the PSA led to differences with Gizenga, who was more left-leaning. He frequently allied with the Alliance des Bakongo (ABAKO), a political party with a large following in the capital, where he focused most of his political efforts.
Kamitatu led the PSA's delegation to the Congolese Round Table Conference in early 1960 to discuss the Congo's political future. He was the first delegate to suggest that the colony be granted independence on 30 June, a stance which was quickly assumed by others and eventually carried out. In June he was elected to the National Assembly, and also became the governor of Léopoldville Province, in part due to his support from ABAKO.
In September Colonel Joseph-Désiré Mobutu deposed Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and created his own government. In spite of pressure from Mobutu and President Joseph Kasa-Vubu, Kamitatu remained loyal to Lumumba. Meanwhile the colonel's soldiers patrolled the streets in the capital with force. Kamitatu protested their activities and accused them of committing rape and violence against local citizens, threatening to lead his province into secession. On the night of 7 November 30 soldiers attempted to seize various government buildings in Léopoldville, but were arrested. Their officers escaped and the following morning Mobutu accused Kamitatu, responsible for the provincial police, of plotting against him. Two days later Kamitatu was arrested. Following negotiations on the handling of the police and a promise to improve relations with the army, he was released.
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