Mnangagwa Demands $1 Billion From The DRC As Compensation, Also Asks For Election Campaign Money

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have asked his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart Joseph Kabila for money to use for his election campaign. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said that the 2018 elections will be held between July 21 and August 21, unless Parliament is dissolved early.

Mnangagwa is also said to have demanded US$1 billion from the DRC as compensation for Zimbabwe’s participation in the DRC war between 1998 and 2002. The compensation is for the loss of military equipment and supplies. A source who spoke to The Zimbabwean Independent said,

Mnangagwa told his DRC counterpart that he needs money to run his election campaign. He asked for Kabila’s assistance in that regard. The resource-rich DRC played a big role during the last elections and has always been one of the go-to countries during elections.

The leaders also discussed issues relating to the compensation of nearly US$1 billion for the equipment lost during the 1990s war. 

However, the DRC is reported to be maintaining its stance that Zimbabwe has already been compensated for its role in the war as it was allocated mining claims where companies linked to the military mined diamonds. The contracts have since been cancelled.

More: The Zimbabwe Independent