| Intro | Congolese politician |
| Is | Politician |
| From | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Type | Politics |
| Gender | male |
Mbuta Daniel Kanza was a prominent Congolese politician and leader of the ABAKO party.
Career
As vice president of the Alliance des Bakongo (ABAKO) party, Kanza attended the Congolese Round Table Conference in Brussels in January 1960, and was chosen to be a vice president of the talks. He heavily criticized party president Joseph Kasa-Vubu for his attitude during the conference and his failure to consult other party members. Kasa-Vubu also pushed for a federalist provincial government, which Kanza strongly opposed in favor of a unitary system. He and two of his sons published a series of articles in a Congo newspaper they ran that accused Kasa-Vubu of collaborating with France to divide the Congo. As a result, Kanza was expelled from ABAKO on 1 February. On 4 March, he announced the formation of a dissident wing of the party, which became known as ABAKO-Kanza. Most of his support came from the Manianga area of the Luozi Territory. In October he was elected to be the first mayor of Léopoldville, serving in the position until June 1962.
Personal life
Daniel was the patriarch of the prominent Kanza family, known for its members’ functions in public service roles for the Congo. He married a woman named Masangaza and had seven children with her. This included Thomas Kanza and Sophie Kanza.