CHURCH; CHOIR; MADAME LUMUMBA SEATED; MINISTER SAYING SERVICE; MADAME LUMUMBA AND HER BROTHER-IN-LAW; BAND; PRESIDENT MOBUTU AND MADAME LUMUMBA; SPEAKER.




Initials JH/VS/JF/PF



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Background: IN A CEREMONY IN KINSHASA, MARKING THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF PATRICE LUMUMBA, THE WIDOW OF THE FIRST CONGOLESE PRIME MINISTER PUBLICLY CAME OUT OF MOURNING.

MADAME LUMUMBA WAS ACCOMPANIED TO THE CHURCH BY VARIOUS DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE, AMONG THEM CONGO-KINSHASA'S MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, JOSEPH NSINGA, WHO REPRESENTED THE HEAD OF STATE, PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU.

PRESIDENT MOBUTU WAS THE GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE PARC DE LA REVOLUTION, WHERE A CEREMONY WAS HELD TO MARK MADAME LUMUMBA'S COMING OUT OF MOURNING.

WEARING WHITE, SHE PRESENTED HERSELF, WITH HER BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HER NEPHEW. SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY YOUNG GIRLS IN WHITE AND BOYS IN BLACK, SYMBOLIZING THE SEVEN YEARS OF MOURNING FOR THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL HERO.

SHE SAT WITH PRESIDENT AND MADAME MOBUTU, AS A EULOGY WAS MADE ABOUT HER LATE HUSBAND, PRAISING HIS IDEALS.