Surviving the Congo

Surviving the Congo

 

During the Rwandan genocide 1 million people were killed in a 100 days.

In 1994 the Rwandan genocide ended and the criminals fled to East Congo.  They used 2 million people as human shields. In East Congo they began killing Congolese-Tutsi. In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo the dictator Mobutu, started having people arrested if suspected to be cooperating with the Rwandan Patriotic Front which ended the genocide and overthrew the dictatorship in Rwanda.

Everyone has a struggle and perseverance story.  Imagine living in fear for your life for weeks on end and surviving when it seemed that others around you were dying.

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo El Memeyi Murangwa has had an arduous journey to get to where he is today, Texas.  At first glance he seems like a pleasant older gentleman who has lived a good life, healthy and is always smiling.

Beginning with his unforgettable smile, he takes me on his journey through his capture, torture and release in the years leading up to his coming to America.

The Congolese dictator did nothing to help his people, imagine what it’s like for someone you follow and believe in to stand by and do nothing when your friends and family are getting slaughtered day by day. 

When the Congolese people in the Kivu province had enough able bodied fighters in 1996 they formed a rebellion and fought the Congolese Army.

Murangwa had been writing about the atrocities as soon as they had started.  “I only wanted to tell the truth,” he said.

He often wrote thought provoking messages to the soldiers, rebels and the citizens.  “You have a gun but they don’t pay you wages so why are you fighting. What are you fighting for? You make people suffer and are taking money from people. Everything you do builds nothing.” Through his writing he often persuaded government’s soldiers to join the rebelling forces.

Eventually, Murangwa was forced into hiding. October 1996 he fled with his brother and sister to Brazzaville in West Congo. 

By May 1997 they were able to return to their home in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The rebels had prevailed and forced dictator Mobutu to flee the country.  Victory, however, would be short-lived. 

The rebel leader Laurent Kabila gained power of the Congo and became greedy.  Instead of uplifting and bringing his people together, he became tainted and motivated by the riches and resources that the Congo had to offer.  He and turned against his people.

The slaughter and turmoil began resumed.

Murangwa was the voice of his people again.  “You are the president you are supposed to protect all citizens the same way.  But what you are doing is wrong.”

Now it’s August 1998.  Murangwa must hide again.  “I did not go anywhere because I was scared of getting arrested and getting killed.  If anybody said there is somebody from the east side of the country or a Tutsi. They will come and blast the door and take you.” 

Eventually Zimbabwe and Angola came to help the Kabila regime.  The fighting was back and forth; the rebels would advance and then be forced to retreat.  After a while the Forced Army of Republic of Democratic Congo (FARDC) fought off the rebels.

The killing still continued. 

“I watched on TV.”  He said, “They were burning people with fires, they showed the army just killing people on the road or throwing them from the tops of buildings.  For hours I knew I was going to die.”

He saw them coming, the FARDC had finally caught up to him.

Thinking quickly Murangwa began to hide his Motorola cellular phone and papers he had written.  There was no time to hide his diploma or other personal identifiers.  He immediately began burning the rest of the material he was actively working on. 

Murangwa thought it would be best to leave from the balcony; as soon as he stepped out he was hit with the butt of an M-16. Stripped, bound, beaten and bleeding he is hauled off to the Presidential Prison Camp. 

Just when he's at his lowest the journey takes another turn.

Murangwa's mood completely changes.  Instead of the joyful, energetic man that began the interview, he was slow to speak, the smile had left. Although he speaking and reflecting on his past, now it seems he is reliving them. One could hear the struggle and pain as he spoke. He did not speak with hatred or animosity but his words were piercing.

He continues.

The Chief of Staff happened to be at the camp and they immediately recognized each other as childhood friends. 

Murangwa was sent to hospital and cleaned up. 

“They started giving me stitches without anesthesia, it was horrible.  While I was there I could hear people getting killed, crying, most of the time they would just shoot one time and leave you there to die.”

By 6 p.m. that day he was being transported to another camp where they weren’t being killed as fast because they were as dangerous as others in the region.

Days go by and he is recognized again.  This time as the author who wrote against the FARDC

Transport again is arranged back to the first camp for him to be executed.  When questioned on the validity of the allegations he did not deny it. Not only did he admit to writing the articles he welcomed death.

Of course he was sent to die.  The Congo River is where people were executed and left to float river.  On the way to the river a general calls the lieutenant and diverts Murangwa's death.

He survived another day.

“I was thrown in jail underground; I stayed there for almost 8 months.  The first months were very hard. I went through electric wire torture and beaten,” he said.  “When it rained outside it flooded, I was looking for something to eat in that water, but you know you had to do everything in that water.”

He goes on to tell how every Monday he would get beaten.

Finally, selection came for the worst criminals to go to the Congo River.  But he is recognized again by a general and is spared for the third time. “I had been in the dark for so long, I couldn’t see because of the light but when I heard his voice call my name I smiled. He recognized me because of the gap”

The general took as best care of him as he could, he even persuaded other officers to secretly send him food.

Ultimately that general was responsible for saving Murangwa's life. The general developed an intricate scheme to make it known that El Memeyi Murangwa was still alive. 

The general's efforts led to the Vatican Ambassador visit to the prison along with the Red Cross. Weeks after this meeting, Murangwa was transported to a Red Cross holding place in Benin, East Africa where he received his visa and sent through health and background checks.

Six months later he boarded  a flight headed to New York, his first stop before his arrival in Texas.

Its hard to understand how someone who has seen so much death, sadness and pain could keep a smile on their face and be friendly to everyone they meet.  El Memeyi Murangwa remained humble, “I smile because I’m a positive guy who learned that in every though situation, God is going to provide a solution and will always send someone to help you and care about you.”

El Memeyi Murangwa is a true hero and should be an inspiration to everyone. Murangwa has showed that through unshakable faith anything is possible.  He has already defied the seemingly impossible and continues to be better day by day.  He is a man everyone could respect.

While in Africa Murangwa obtained a business management degree, here in Texas he received an Associates of Art from Tarrant County College and is currently a senior expected to graduate May 2014 from the University of Texas at Arlington with Bachelor in Communication.