• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246459
TITLE=ZAMBIA / UNITA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ZAMBIAN AUTHORITIES THIS WEEK TOOK A GROUP OF JOURNALISTS
TO AN AIRSTRIP CLOSE TO THE ANGOLAN BORDER IN AN EFFORT TO SHOW 
THE FACILITY IS  NOT  BEING USED BY ANGOLA'S UNITA REBELS AS A 
SUPPLY POINT.  BUT V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX 
BELIDA REPORTS THE AIRSTRIP IS  NOT  THE FACILITY IDENTIFIED BY 
SOURCES AS UNITA'S MAIN AIRBASE IN THE AREA. 
TEXT:  THE GROUP OF MOSTLY ZAMBIAN REPORTERS WAS TAKEN TO THE 
AIRSTRIP AT ZAMBEZI TOWN, WHERE OFFICIALS TOLD THEM IT WAS 
STRUCTURALLY TOO WEAK AS WELL AS TOO SHORT AND NARROW TO RECEIVE 
HEAVY CARGO-CARRYING AIRCRAFT LIKE THE HERCULES C-130.  THESE 
OFFICIALS ALSO SAID THE AIRSTRIP WAS ESSENTIALLY ABANDONED AND 
RARELY USED THESE DAYS -- EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONAL VISITS BY SENIOR 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
BUT ZAMBEZI AIRSTRIP IS  NOT  THE AIRFIELD IDENTIFIED BY AFRICAN 
AND OTHER SECURITY SOURCES AS THE KEY UNITA LOGISTICS BASE IN 
NORTHWESTERN ZAMBIA.  THE UNITA FACILITY IS LOCATED IN A REMOTE 
AREA BETWEEN ZAMBEZI TOWN AND THE BORDER COMMUNITY OF CHAVUMA AND
WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED TO FUNNEL WESTERN SUPPORT TO UNITA 
DURING THE COLD WAR ERA.
AS REPORTED A YEAR AGO BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA, EYEWITNESSES SAY 
THIS AIRFIELD HAS A PAVED RUNWAY THAT IS ABOUT THREE-THOUSAND 
METERS IN LENGTH AND IS FULLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING LARGE CARGO 
PLANES.  THE FACILITY ALSO IS REPORTED TO HAVE UNDERGROUND FUEL 
TANKS AS WELL AS LIGHTS FOR NIGHT LANDINGS.
ONE SOURCE WHO TRAVELLED AROUND THE AIRFIELD LAST YEAR REPORTED 
SIGNS OF HEAVY ACTIVITY, INCLUDING VEHICLES HEADING FROM THE 
RUNWAY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ANGOLAN BORDER.  HE ALSO SAW 
WEAPONS-CARRYING MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING AT ROADBLOCKS IN THE 
AREA AND SPOKE TO THEM IN PORTUGUESE.  NO ZAMBIAN SOLDIERS OR 
OFFICIALS WERE IN EVIDENCE.
ACTIVITY AT THE FACILITY HALTED ONE YEAR AGO FOLLOWING THE 
INITIAL DISCLOSURES.  HOWEVER, SOURCES SAY UNITA LATER RESUMED 
ITS USE OF THE AIRFIELD.
ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES HAVE ACCUSED ZAMBIA OF ASSISTING UNITA WITH 
WEAPONS, FUEL AND OTHER SUPPLIES.  ZAMBIAN OFFICIALS HAVE 
REPEATEDLY DENIED THE CHARGES.
                     ///  REST OPTIONAL  ///
MEANWHILE, AUTHORITIES IN THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL, LUSAKA, ARE 
REPORTED TO HAVE DETAINED SEVERAL JOURNALISTS WHO WORK FOR THE 
INDEPENDENT "POST"  NEWSPAPER.  THE ARRESTS FOLLOW THE 
NEWSPAPER'S PUBLICATION OF AN ARTICLE WHICH DISCUSSED ZAMBIA'S 
MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND SAID THAT ZAMBIA COULD  NOT  WITHSTAND 
A MILITARY ATTACK BY ANGOLA.
ANGOLA HAS THREATENED POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ZAMBIA 
UNLESS UNITA'S USE OF ZAMBIAN TERRITORY AS A SUPPLY ROUTE IS 
HALTED.  (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
10-Mar-99 11:26 AM EST (1626 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.