DATE=4/1/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42999
TITLE=ANGOLA/ZAMBIA/ARMS
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANGOLA CONTINUES TO MAKE SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST ZAMBIA,
ACCUSING IT OF SUPPORTING THE "UNITA" REBEL MOVEMENT. ZAMBIA, ON
THE OTHER HAND, CONTINUES TO REJECT THE ALLEGATIONS. V-O-A
SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA EXAMINES THE DISPUTE.
TEXT: ANGOLA CHARGES THAT ZAMBIA'S GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS
PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS IN ZAMBIA, ARE KEY ELEMENTS IN
UNITA'S CLANDESTINE, SANCTIONS-BUSTING SUPPLY NETWORK. ZAMBIA
SAYS SUCH ACCUSATIONS ARE UNTRUE. NEWSTEAD ZIMBA IS ZAMBIA'S
CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN:
// ZIMBA ACTUALITY //
ANGOLA HAS BEEN ASSURED AND ANGOLA IS CONTINUOUSLY BEING
ASSURED BY ZAMBIA THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ENGAGE IN
THE DIRTY THINGS THEY ALLEGE WE ARE DOING.
// END ACT //
BUT ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIANS CLAIM THE ANGOLAN CHARGES ARE
TRUE. PEOPLE LIKE EXILED OPPOSITION LEADER RODGER CHONGWE
INSIST ANGOLA HAS A LEGITIMATE CASE AND BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD
TAKE ACTION TO SHUT DOWN UNITA'S ZAMBIAN CONNECTION.
// CHONGWE ACTUALITY //
I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT ANGOLA SHOULD BE INVADING
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. BUT IF ANGOLA IS BEING PROVOKED
BY HEADS OF STATE OF NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF
THEIR GREEDINESS IN MONEY BY SELLING ARMS TO REBEL
MOVEMENTS, I'M SURE THAT IF I WAS IN THE ANGOLAN
GOVERNMENT, I WOULD HOLD MR. CHILUBA AND EVEN HIS VICE
PRESIDENT -- WHO I UNDERSTAND IS ALSO INVOLVED --
PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR THIS CRIME. AND I THINK THEY
SHOULD BE DEALT WITH SEVERELY.
// END ACTUALITY //
ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT ZAMBIA IS GUILTY
-- PERHAPS NOT OF OFFICIALLY-ENDORSED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR
UNITA, BUT CERTAINLY OF PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE
REBELS, AND OF ALLOWING THE USE OF ZAMBIAN TERRITORY AS A CONDUIT
INTO UNITA-HELD AREAS OF ANGOLA BORDERING ZAMBIA.
RICHARD CORNWELL OF THE INDEPENDENT "INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY
STUDIES" OUTSIDE JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, SAYS THE ARMS TRADE
IN THE REGION OFTEN LINKS THE POLITICAL AND BUSINESS ELITES OF
COUNTRIES.
// CORNWELL ACTUALITY //
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NETWORKS ACROSS SOUTHERN (AND)
CENTRAL AFRICA WHICH MAKE UP THE REALLY THRIVING PIECES
OF THE ECONOMIES OF THE REGION. AND THESE ARE BASICALLY
ILLICIT NETWORKS THAT ARE WELL CONNECTED, POLITICALLY.
AND IT'S THE INTERACTION BETWEEN POLITICAL ELITES AND
BUSINESS ELITES, THE CO-OPTED BUSINESS ELITES THAT ARE
RUNNING THESE ILLICIT NETWORKS, THAT MAKES UP SO MUCH OF
THE STORY OF SOUTH, CENTRAL AFRICA. AND YOU CAN SEE
(THAT) IF THE FLOW OF WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES TO
UNITA WOULD BE STAUNCHED, THERE WOULD BE SOME MAJOR
BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE IN VERY GRAVE DIFFICULTY.
// END ACTUALITY //
ANGOLA HAS IN THE PAST THREATENED MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ZAMBIA,
IF UNITA'S SUPPLY LINKS IN THAT COUNTRY ARE NOT SHUT DOWN. BUT
IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER IT WILL RUN THE RISK OF SUCH
INTERVENTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS FORCES APPEAR TO HAVE THEIR
HANDS FULL BY FIGHTING UNITA'S WELL-EQUIPPED SOLDIERS IN ANGOLA
ITSELF. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
01-Apr-99 7:14 AM EST (1214 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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