DATE=2/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245257
TITLE=ANGOLA/ZAMBIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A TOP ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT
IN AN ILLEGAL SUPPORT NETWORK FOR ANGOLA'S "UNITA" REBEL MOVEMENT
HAS DENIED THE CHARGES. V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX
BELIDA REPORTS.
TEXT: ZAMBIAN ENERGY MINISTER BEN MWILA HAS ANGRILY REJECTED
CHARGES THAT HE AND THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT ARE INVOLVED IN
ILLEGAL GUN-RUNNING TO ANGOLA'S UNITA REBELS.
IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED MONDAY BY ZAMBIA'S INDEPENDENT "POST"
NEWSPAPER, MR. MWILA SAYS ZAMBIA HELPED BROKER ANGOLA'S 1994
PEACE AGREEMENT. "HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED IN GUN-RUNNING?" HE
ASKS, CHALLENGING THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE TANGIBLE
EVIDENCE LINKING ZAMBIA TO UNITA.
BOTH THE "POST" AND THE STATE-CONTROLLED ZAMBIAN "DAILY MAIL"
NEWSPAPERS ALSO CARRY REPORTS MONDAY ABOUT THE ABRUPT
CANCELLATION OF A SCHEDULED NEWS CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY BY A
VISITING ANGOLAN DELEGATION.
ANGOLAN SOURCES ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THE GROUP WAS TO HAVE
REVEALED THE NAMES OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SUPPLYING UNITA FROM
ZAMBIA. THE REPORTS SAY THE NEWS CONFERENCE WAS CALLED OFF AFTER
ALLEGED INTERVENTION BY ZAMBIAN AUTHORITIES.
ANGOLA LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED IT HAD WHAT A LUANDA TELEVISION
BROADCAST DESCRIBED AS "IRREFUTABLE PROOF" OF ZAMBIA'S
INVOLVEMENT IN AIDING UNITA. THE BROADCAST IDENTIFIED MR. MWILA,
ZAMBIA'S FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER, AS A KEY PLAYER IN THE REBELS'
SUPPORT NETWORK IN ZAMBIA.
IN THE "POST" INTERVIEW, MR. MWILA DENIES HE WAS MOVED FROM THE
DEFENSE MINISTRY TO THE ENERGY MINISTRY BECAUSE OF SUCH
ALLEGATIONS. HE ALSO DENIES PERSISTENT REPORTS THAT HE IS
RELATED TO UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI.
// REST OPTIONAL //
DESPITE HIS DENIALS, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS SAY ZAMBIA IS ONE OF
UNITA'S LAST REMAINING SUPPLY LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
FOLLOWING THE IMPOSITION OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE
REBEL GROUP. THESE SOURCES SAY WEAPONS, AMMUNITION, DIESEL FUEL,
FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES PASS THROUGH ZAMBIA EN ROUTE TO
UNITA-CONTROLLED TERRITORY INSIDE ANGOLA.
UNITA AND THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT LATE LAST YEAR RESUMED THEIR
CIVIL WAR FOLLOWING THE BREAKDOWN OF THE 1994 PEACE AGREEMENT
THEY SIGNED IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA. UNITA CLAIMED IN A COMMUNIQUE
LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS SEIZING LARGE QUANTITIES OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT IN ENGAGEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENT FORCES. IN AN APPARENT
REFERENCE TO REPORTS ABOUT ITS FOREIGN ARMS SUPPLIERS, IT SAID
THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS WAS, WHAT IT
TERMED, "OUR MAIN SUPPLIER OF WAR MATERIAL." (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF/KL
08-Feb-99 8:36 AM EST (1336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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