DATE=4/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248331
TITLE=ANGOLA / KAUNDA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION LEADER KENNETH KAUNDA.
V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS THE MOVE
IS AN APPARENT SIGN OF ANGOLA'S DISPLEASURE WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA, WHICH LUANDA CHARGES HAS
BEEN SUPPORTING THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT.
TEXT: A SENIOR ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THAT ANGOLA --
IN HIS WORDS -- "IS INVESTING" IN A VICTORY BY MR. KAUNDA'S
UNITED NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY IN ZAMBIA'S NEXT ELECTIONS,
EXPECTED IN 2001.
THE OFFICIAL, SPEAKING TO THE VOICE OF AMERICA FROM LUANDA ON
CONDITION OF ANONYMITY, GIVES NO INDICATION OF THE NATURE OR
EXTENT OF THE SUPPORT ANGOLA HAS DELIVERED OR PROMISED.
HOWEVER, SOURCES IN ZAMBIA CLOSE TO THE KAUNDA FAMILY INDICATE
THE ANGOLAN CONTRIBUTION COULD BE IN EXCESS OF ONE-MILLION
DOLLARS.
MR. KAUNDA HAS BEEN TRAVELLING ABROAD AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR
COMMENT ON THE ANGOLAN OFFICIAL'S STATEMENT. HOWEVER WHEN
CONTACTED BY V-O-A IN LUSAKA, HIS SON WEZI REACTED BY DENYING
WHAT HE CALLED "RUMORS."
/// OPT // WEZI KAUNDA ACTUALITY ///
THERE IS NO TRUTH TO THESE RUMORS WHATSOEVER.
/// END OPT ACTUALITY ///
DESPITE THE DENIAL, MR. KAUNDA AND HIS SON ARE BOTH UNDERSTOOD TO
HAVE MAINTAINED CLOSE CONTACTS WITH SENIOR ANGOLAN OFFICIALS,
INCLUDING PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS. ONE TOP DOS SANTOS
ADVISOR HAS TOLD THE VOICE OF AMERICA THAT HE HAD A PERSONAL
MEETING WITH WEZI KAUNDA IN SOUTH AFRICA EARLIER THIS YEAR.
INDEPENDENT SOURCES ALSO INDICATE THE ELDERLY MR. KAUNDA HAS
VISITED LUANDA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THESE SOURCES SAY THE
FORMER ZAMBIAN LEADER WAS IN FREQUENT TELEPHONE CONTACT WITH THE
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN THE ANGOLAN CAPITAL AT THE TIME OF A
SO-CALLED COUP ATTEMPT IN LUSAKA IN LATE 1997. MR. KAUNDA WAS
STAYING IN A HOTEL OUTSIDE JOHANNESBURG IN SOUTH AFRICA WHEN THE
INCIDENT TOOK PLACE.
AT THAT TIME, ZAMBIAN AUTHORITIES VOICED CONCERN THE REVOLT
INVOLVING A SMALL GROUP OF DISGRUNTLED SOLDIERS MAY HAVE BEEN
BACKED BY ANGOLA TO PUNISH ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA
FOR HIS GOVERNMENT'S ALLEGED SUPPORT FOR THE UNITA REBELS. MR.
KAUNDA WAS LATER ARRESTED AND ACCUSED OF HAVING ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE
OF THE PLOT. THE CHARGES WERE EVENTUALLY DROPPED.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
MR. CHILUBA AND HIS GOVERNMENT HAVE REPEATEDLY DENIED PROVIDING
ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE ANGOLAN REBELS -- EVEN THOUGH INDEPENDENT
SOURCES SAY SUPPLIES DESTINED FOR UNITA CONTINUE TO FLOW THROUGH
ZAMBIAN TERRITORY.
MR. CHILUBA DEFEATED MR. KAUNDA IN ZAMBIA'S FIRST DEMOCRATIC
ELECTIONS EIGHT YEARS AGO. HIS SUPPORTERS ENGINEERED A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PREVENT THE FORMER ZAMBIAN LEADER
FROM RUNNING IN THE 1996 ELECTIONS.
MORE RECENTLY, IN WHAT WAS SEEN BY ANALYSTS AS A FURTHER
POLITICAL MOVE TO THWART A KAUNDA CANDIDACY IN 2001, A COURT IN
ZAMBIA RULED MR. KAUNDA, WHOSE PARENTS WERE FROM MALAWI, HAD
ACQUIRED HIS ZAMBIAN CITIZENSHIP ILLEGALLY. THE COURT DECLARED
HIM A STATELESS PERSON. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/PLM
20-Apr-99 4:24 AM EDT (0824 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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