The Legacy of Zaire - A conversation with Nzanga Mobutu

On this episode of Congolive, we were blessed to have with us in the studio a very special guest, Nzanga Mobutu, the son of the late Congolese president Mobutu Sese Seko. Being in the public life since birth, Nzanga took us on a journey to get a glimpse of his life as a political leader, an art collector and a father. Bio Nzanga Mobutu is the oldest surviving son of the former Congolese president Mobutu Sese Seko. Born on March 24, 1970 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nzanga was educated in Belgium during his elementary and high school years. He graduated from Collège Saint-Vincent de Soignies with concentration in Economy. He received a degree in Arts and Sciences with concentration in Communications from Université de Montréal. He also received a degree in International Relations from American University in Paris. His political career started in 1996 as the communications adviser of the Executive Office of the President in the last days of the Mobutu Regime. He founded the political party UDEMO in 2006. That same year, he ran as a candidate in the Presidential Elections and placed fourth, with about 4.8% of the vote. He served in the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo under President Joseph Kabila from 2007 to 2011 as the Deputy Prime minister, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. In November 2010, he walked away from his ministerial position given the long crisis between himself and President Kabila around transparency in government's affairs. Nzanga Mobutu is married to his childhood friend and sister of Jean Pierre Bemba, Catherine Bemba.They are parents to three beautiful children. A passionate of art, movies and politics, Nzanga loves to play soccer and tennis. Lately, he has become a fan of American basketball.