Zaire Boat

Ship Zaire or Ship Library Zaire is a currently static vessel, located in Bairro da Restinga, a privileged area of Lobito, where the bay joins the open sea, becoming a tourist attraction much sought after by students, government officials, tourists and people. unique, both national and foreign.
It is currently static and serves as a library and historical monument, thus being a place of tourist interest.
Under the responsibility of the Ethnography Museum of the railway port city, the boat “Zaire” has as its highest reference the transportation of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, accompanied by other nationalists, on November 7, 1961, bound for Congo Léopoldville (current Democratic Congo), within the scope of the armed struggle.
According to Museum archives, the seven passengers who traveled clandestinely on that boat across the Zaire River, the same name with which it was baptized, arrived at their destination on the day November 14th, having coincidentally spent seven days sailing.

History of the boat:
Bibliographic data indicate that the boat “Zaire” was used to transport former President José Eduardo dos Santos and six other companions, without mentioning them, to Congo Léopoldville, now Democratic Congo, to join the Angolan Liberation Army ( ELPA), former armed wing of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
Inaugurated on November 15, 2000, the boat “Zaire” operated as a library until mid-March 2017, with five employees, including librarians and guides for visitors.
From that date until now, it has been “semi-abandoned” due to lack of maintenance and other care deserved by a national symbol, which is the heritage of all Angolans.