WILL PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA ALSO TELL KABILA TO RESIGN?

Nduduzo Tshuma,Kinshasa, DRC:

President Mnangagwa has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to meet his counterpart President Joseph Kabila as he resumes his courtesy calls on fellow Heads of State and Government in the region to apprise them of political developments in Zimbabwe since he came to power in November last year.

President Mnangagwa at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport today before leaving for the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of his regional courtesy calls following his inauguration as the Zimbabwean President.
Image: Believe Nyakudjara

President Mnangagwa touched down to a warm welcome by the president of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo Mr Obey Minaku, advisor to the DRC President Mr Kikaya bin Karubi, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the DRC Mr Faranisi and embassy staff as well as diplomats accredited to that country.

He is accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Acting Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Simon Khaya Moyo and Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo.

Mnangagwa has been briefing Southern African heads of state on his rise to power through military intervention in November last year.

He has already been to South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana on a similar mission but his trip to DRC is unique because Kabila is under siege to step down.

Botswana yesterday called on Kabila to step down saying leaders like Kabila hold on to power because “such leaders are driven by self-interest instead of those of the people they govern”.

Kabila became leader of the DRC in January 2001 taking over from his father who was assassinated 10 days before he took office.

His rise to power was largely sponsored by Zimbabwe which was backing his father.

With the new dispensation in Southern Africa which has seen Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Jacob Zuma and Robert Mugabe go, eyes will be focusing on whether Mnangagwa can persuade Kabila to go quietly instead of waiting to be forced out.

Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe military had close ties to Kabila and the DRC through what they called Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (Osleg).

Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo is reported to have been one of the key players in the DRC operation.

Mnangagwa, who is marketing himself to the international community as a reformer who can get Zimbabwe back on its feet and to the international community, could score a major diplomatic coup if he persuades Kabila to step down.

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