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HARARE – The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has started sending trainers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the clandestine deal recently agreed by President Robert Mugabe and the DRC government.
It is believed that the new deal includes a pact that gives the ZDF mining concessions in the diamond-rich central African country. There is also a stampede within the top echelons of the army as senior officers fight to be included in the new adventure, where, like in the previous excursion, opportunities abound for personal benefit through looting and dealing in the precious minerals.
Senior sources in the army told The Zimbabwean this week that a ZDF delegation recently visited the DRC following a visit to this country by a delegation sent by President Joseph Kabila.
“The first batch of trainers has already left the country, and that followed a visit to the DRC by senior army officials to negotiate the modalities and time frame,” a highly-placed source said. “ZDF has basically been called to provide training to the DRC army recruits. Part of the new agreement states that if need be, Zimbabwe might be requested to send its troops in as reinforcements.”
This paper has it on good authority that a group of senior army officials drawn mainly from the KGV1 headquarters base in Harare and Manyame Airbase in Gweru were sent on the mission. It is also understood that part of the new deal included a clandestine selling of weapons to the DRC by the Mugabe regime. – Itai Dzamara Â
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