Independent Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa has challenged securocrats to account for “proceeds” from Zimbabwe’s participation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) war of the late 1990s.
Late Laurent Kabila, the then DRC president, sought the assistance of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) to fend off insurgency in return for mineral concessions in that country, NewZimbabwe.com reports.
The deal between Kabila and then President Robert Mugabe was shrouded in secrecy amid suspicion Zimbabwe’s founding leader and his inner circle, including army generals, amassed rich pickings.
Speaking during a recent pre-budget meeting of Parliament in Harare, Mliswa said:
Zimbabwe joined the DRC war and there was supposed to be something for us. I would want to know what has happened to that because when we go there, it is a service. I look at the police, the prison and the army as a service. They are there to generate money.
We have a history in terms of resources being given to the Defence ministry. At times it is a question of mismanagement of resources. So while we are talking about resources, the critical issue is their management.
The former ZANU PF legislator also challenged Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri to deal with rampant corruption in the army and airforce.
He said there was massive mismanagement of resources of the Defence and Home Affairs ministries.
Mliswa’s contribution came after Muchinguri-Kashiri’s report on the defence forces’ poor condition of service where soldiers were reportedly being served sadza and beans daily, and some staying in old dilapidated barracks countrywide.
Mliswa said ZDF wouldn’t be buying uniforms if resources were being managed well adding that there are sewing machines that can be used to make the uniforms.
Very foolish utterance from a politicians with nothing useful to say. Who goes to war to get proceeds? This was a SADC and AU mission. Zimbabwe was not the only foreign interventionist in that campaign. There were Angolan and Namibian troops there. We have never heard such foolish statements from politicians in that country.
You might be right but at the same time you must know that Zim army generals were Looting diamonds at the expense of our young pple who were dying fighting in DRC , they made millions of dollars at the expense of our soldiers and as such Mliswa might be right. Some of Us we know very well what happened in DRC and it was unnecessary for us but a way of enriching these greedy generals. Right now on the budget the Defence always get a big chunk ,why what purpose do they serve in our Nation , besides they are a pain when it comes to abuse
TEMBA Mliswa is 500% right from Bob ,ED, Gen Zvinavashe, Gen Sibanda, Gen Nyambuya, Bill, Many Brigadiers looted to their present day wealth. Its not a secret. Kabila paid Zimbabwe but everything was looted. Temba tell the Nation man. Even Sibusiso Moyo looted so His ZACC wife is enjoying the loot.
The DRC looters list is endless .ask Gen Guvheya who has a brook villa over looking everyone where his loot came from. DRC was an opportunity to loot for the big guns not for poor boys who are buried in Congo. No one cared. Looting was the order of the war. Generals flew to France and UK to with young Congolese girls to watch Football during the war. Tell the nation Temba