Death of trade unionist Emery Masunga: Tony Mwaba pays tribute to a "serious and balanced fighter".

Trade unionist Emery Masunga passed away while attending the joint government-union committee meeting of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST) in Kisantu, Kongo-Central, where he had been staying since last week.

The vice president of the National Union of Teachers of Congo (SYNECO) was found dead in his hotel room at Mbuela Lodge on the morning of Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

The minister in charge, Tony Mwaba Kazadi, who had him constantly at his doorstep for having participated in all the latest discussions with the EPST union delegation, pays tribute to a man he describes as a fighter, committed, serious, and level-headed.

"He will remain a model of a responsible and level-headed union leader. A man of peace, a fighter and a courageous man, a man of his word, a valiant and serious union leader," he wrote on his social media pages.

Tony Mwaba also pays tribute to a union leader who advocated for free education but never sacrificed the defense of teachers’ interests or the fight against anti-values in this sector.

"He remained a trade unionist until his death, as he liked to repeat in a refrain... he fell standing on the battlefield, weapon in hand, defending teachers’ rights, but alas, he leaves the fight behind him at an unexpected moment, while we still needed him," added the head of the EPST in his message of condolence.

It should be noted that the work of the Government-EPST Union Joint Committee will be able to continue at Mbuela Lodge, provided that the funeral arrangements for the distinguished deceased are finalized.

Thierry Mbebangu