October 20, 2004 Posted to the web October 20, 2004
Joseph Banda Lusaka
ASSAILANTS who attacked and occupied Kilwa Island in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) did not come from Zambia, it has been learnt.
DRC Ambassador to Zambia Jean-Marie Kazadi clarified yesterday that gunmen who attacked the Island which had the same name to the Zambian island were from within Congo, contrary to reports in the international media.
Ambassador Kazadi said a group of Mai-Mai combatants together with armed militiamen from the Movement for the Liberation of Katanga attacked the Island.
He said the motive behind the attack was to disrupt and jeopardise Anvil Mining investment, a company that was operating in that area and was also intending to put up important investment in Luapula Province of Zambia.
He said the assailants came from Katanda town in the DRC and had since been displaced from the Island.
He said the DRC government forces from Pweto entered Kilwa and took control of the town last weekend.
Over 3,000 Congolese nationals have since crossed over into Zambia seeking refugee status and Zambian immigration officials are currently screening them.
Ambassador Kazadi said the Zambian and DRC governments were working closely to facilitate the return of displaced Congolese nationals who are currently on the Zambian Kilwa Island.
He said the DRC embassy in Lusaka was pleased with the quick measures taken by the Zambian authorities to prevent aggressors from spreading their misdeeds into Zambia.
The international media reported that a group of Portuguese speaking gunmen who attacked the Island were believed to have entered the DRC through Zambia
Take the 4th paragraph with a grain of salt, but at least the DRC are fully behind the mining operations.
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