Kabila in Mugabe talks amid DRC protests

via Kabila in Mugabe talks amid DRC protests – New Zimbabwe 12/11/2015

AS protests against him continue back home, DRC leader Joseph Kabila arrived in Harare Thursday for talks with President Robert Mugabe Thursday.

Harare sent thousands of troops to the DRC in 1998 to help defend Kabila’s father as his regime was about to fall to rebels invading from Rwanda and Rwanda.

The deployment is said to have helped trigger Zimbabwe’s economic crisis as well as claim the lives hundreds of soldiers and military hardware including planes, the latter allegations denied by the government however.

Uncertainty over Kabila’s intentions has triggered months of protests in the DRC as the country faces fresh polls in 2016 which he is constitutionally barred from contesting after being in power for two terms.

Kabila has remained silent about his intentions but speculation he may attempt to extend his tenure has sparked months of unrest and a government crackdown against the opposition.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the DRC leader, Mugabe – current chair of the African Union – appeared to lament the fact that Kabila does not visit frequently enough.

“My brother here paid us a visit. He has been away from us for a long time but very busy in his own country which is much larger than ours,” Mugabe said according to State media.

“He gave an account of how they are organising themselves geographically and politically in order to unite the people and they feel they are getting there.

“They are also, just now, trying to prepare for local elections, which will lead to national ones.”

For his part, Kabila said he was “happy to be home”.

“I came back home after quite some time,” he said.

“We talked about the region and the Congo but especially relations between these two countries, Zimbabwe and DRC relations that we need to continue to reinforce and consolidate in all spheres that is economic, political and defence.

“Our political process is an ongoing one which will definitely culminate in dialogue and then elections later on.

“We are steadfast and I have invited the President to come to Kinshasa one of these days just as I am going to come back soon.”

Mugabe said the discussions had also focused on economic ties between the two countries.

“We talked about the economy as well and you know they are very rich in resources but like ours, they are underground,” said the veteran leader.

“They have diamonds, cooper gold and they have what we don’t have, oil. They possess them.

“Once upon a time a country called Belgium pretended to be master of what they call the Congo but they have been dismissed and people are free.”

Kabila was expected to return home Friday.