Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba (
French: Ordre National «Héros-Nationaux, Kabila-Lumumba») is the highest
order of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is awarded to Congolese nationals and foreigners who have rendered merits and loyal services to the nation. The order was instituted in 2002 as a replacement for the
National Order of the Leopard. It is named after President
Laurent-Désiré Kabila and Prime Minister
Patrice Lumumba, both of whom were assassinated while in office.
History
During the independence of the DRC, there have been four "national orders":
Order of the Congolese Nation (Ordre de la Nation Congolaise),
National Order of the Leopard (Ordre National du Léopard),
National Order of Zaire (Ordre National du Zaïre), and the Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba, the last of which was founded by Law No. 009/2002 (5 August 2002) and amended by Decree-Law No. 012/2003 (30 March 2003). The previous national orders are no longer awarded.[1] The order is named after President
Laurent-Désiré Kabila and Prime Minister
Patrice Lumumba. Both were assassinated while in office, on 17 January 1961 and 16 January 2001, respectively.[2] Lumumba had already been declared a "national hero" in 1966 during the rule of
Mobutu Sese Seko,[3] and Kabila followed quickly after his death when his son
Joseph Kabila immediately took office as the new president. In the form of the new order, both are jointly commemorated as martyrs for national liberation against foreign influence.[4] It is the highest order of the country,[5] given for merits and loyal services to the nation.[6]
An initial set of insignia was drawn up shortly after the order had been instituted. The insignia, however, had to be re-drawn after the DRC changed
its flag and
emblem in 2006. The insignia are manufactured by
Eng Leong Medallic Industries.[7]
The
Congolese orders, decorations, and medals have been marred by corruption. André Matutezulwa has publicly denied that he has ever decorated a Chinese national to the Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba.[9] Controversy ensued when
John Numbi, then Inspector General of the
Congolese National Police implicated in the murder of human rights activist
Floribert Chebeya and his chauffeur,[13] was made Grand Officer of the order (17 May 2017)[14][15]
The order can be awarded to both Congolese nationals and foreigners.[2] It has separate civilian and military divisions.[16] It can also be conferred posthumously.[2] Membership can be revoked for treason or for other serious crimes.[6]