It has been claimed he was involved in ethnic cleansing[1] and in the assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, during the Congo Crisis.

[3] He was a descendant of King Msiri of the Nyamwezi, who founded the State of Garenganze in the latter half of the 19th century.

The Belgian authorities have pointed at the incompatibility between his functions, and had to step down as CONAKAT president in favour of Moïse Tshombe.

Near the airport at Luano in Lubumbashi, they were all tortured, and Lumumba was personally assaulted by Katangan leaders, including Munongo and Belgian officers.

[1] In reports Munongo said, "I will speak frankly, If people accuse us of killing Lumumba, I will reply: 'Prove it'.

"[6] At the Conference Nationale Souveraine (CNS) shortly before his death, Mabika Kalanda asked him, "Godefroid, you are one of the survivors who participated in the end of Patrice Émery Lumumba.

The family website records that Munongo was going to break his silence on the death of Lumumba, but on the day of the announcement, he suffered a heart attack and died on 28 May 1992.