(HERALD ZW) UN warns of Katanga crisis
January 30, 2014
Martin Kobler
Kinshasa. — The head of the UN Mission for Stabilisation of the Congo (Monusco), Martin Kobler, said yesterday during a press conference that a humanitarian catastrophe is happening in the Katanga province of the DRC.“This is a humanitarian disaster. I think (we need) a bit of bad conscience in Katanga because we focused on our military activities in the Kivu (provinces), but it is important not to overlook the (situation in) Katanga,” said Mr Kobler, adding “but our priority is Kivu”.
According to the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in the province of Katanga, nearly 18 000 displaced people have received aid from the World Food Programme (WFP) in the last few days. However, nearly 3 000 have not yet received help due to inclement weather in the territories of Malemba Nkulu, Manono and Mitwaba.
“Ten trucks carrying 172 tonnes of food from Lubumbashi to Manono were stuck for several days in the territory of Mitwaba,” said the official in charge of public information at OCHA, Mr Sylvestre Mudingayi.
He assured that the WFP planned to further distribute nearly 650 tonnes of food to the newly-displaced in Kalemie that hosts more than 6 000 people, Malemba Nkulu’s 15 000 people and Pweto’s 35 000 people in the coming days.
The activities of the militia known as Bakata Katanga have increasued the vulnerability of the civilian population in the province. — Xinhua.
Labels: DRC, KATANGA PROVINCE, MARTIN KOBLER, MONUSCO, UN
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By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Wed 24 Feb. 2010, 03:10 CAT
CHIEF government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has said the Zambian government is ready to dialogue with DRC Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi over his stolen money and emeralds.
Commenting on Katumbi’s intention to sue the Zambian government over his missing emeralds and money in an account at Zanaco that was seized by the abolished Task Force on Corruption, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the government was not aware about the account being broken into.
“The Zambian government is ready to dialogue with Katumbi before he can take us to court. DRC and Zambia are friends and if Katumbi has got some grievances, he should come and we can dialogue with him,” Lt Gen Shikapwasha said.
“Zambia enjoys good business relations with DRC. But if after dialogue he still feels he wants to take us to court then we will go to court but we are going to try to dialogue with him.”
Katumbi on Monday threatened to sue the Zambian government for allegedly breaking into his seized Zanaco account and getting his precious stones worth billions of kwachas.
In an interview at his office in Lubumbashi, Katumbi said after he signed an agreement with late president Levy Mwanawasa that his property and all his seized assets be returned to him, he went to Zanaco and found that his stone, emeralds and some money were missing.
Katumbi said he had demanded an explanation from the now disbanded Task Force on Corruption, to explain the whereabouts of his stones, a trunk-full of emeralds and some money, but they did not give a satisfactory answer.
He said last week Zanaco Bank called his lawyer asking him to go and collect his assets.
“In my Zanaco account, I had some money, a stone and a trunk full of emeralds. Where did it go when I went to get it? These are the answers I want. I was called all sorts of names when my things were confiscated,” complained Katumbi.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said Katumbi had the right to choose his friends.
Commenting on Katumbi’s statement that President Rupiah Banda was not his friend as perceived by many people, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said, “Mr Katumbi has the right to choose his own friends. We cannot choose who should be Mr Katumbi’s friends. But as far as we are concerned, Zambia and DRC are friends and we are going to continue to be relating the same way we have been even if Mr Katumbi sued the government.”
Asked if the government would pay former Tamba Bashila workers’ terminal benefits, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said Katumbi’s grievances should be given to the government for examination and assessment.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the arms of the government would conclude and decide what to do with Tamba Bashila workers after investigations.
Labels: KATANGA PROVINCE, KATUMBI, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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Scores of Congolese refugees skeptical about Katanga peace
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mporokoso
Sat 07 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
SOME Congolese refugees have doubted the sincerity behind Katanga deputy governor Yav Tshibal's assurances that the DRC is now peaceful and that all those that fled it due to the war should return.
And some refugees have wondered why the free education programme that is supposed to be provided to the children of the DRC refugees returning to Moba area of that country was not being implemented as agreed.
Addressing scores of anxious Congolese refugees at Mwange Refugee Camp, situated about 20 kilometres from Mporokoso boma on Thursday, Tshibal said President Joseph Kabila of the DRC had embarked on a five-tier commitment in an effort to bring out that country from the aftermath effects of the war.
Tshibal said President Kabila's five commitments include, among others, the zeal to reduce high unemployment levels, enhance the reconstruction process and improve the education sector, especially in respect of the child.
Tshibal said in Swahili that it was a known thing that a lot of Congolese went through difficulties during the war.
"He (President Kabila) said we go for elections and we went for elections. We have put in place people in all institutions of government," Tshibal said. "Everything has been put in place and the war has ended. Congo is a very big country and it needs you to go and reconstruct it. Your home is your home. Let us go back to our home."
Tshibal said the Congolese government would welcome its returning refugees just as the Zambian government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were taking care of them in Zambia.
Earlier, the secretary general in the Ministry of Security and Interior Affairs in the DRC government, Xavier Kiriza, also urged the Congolese refugees to return home since the conflict there had ceased.
"When you are in a foreign country, you do not have that respect. Congo is our home," Karizi said.
But during a follow-up question session, a 50-year-old Congolese refugee, who claimed to have spent 40 years of his life in the DRC and then in Zambia, asked Tshibal and Karizi if they were being truthful with their assurances that the war was over.
"For the past two days I have just been hearing in the news that there is war in Kivu and you are just telling us that there is peace. Are you telling us the truth?" asked the Congolese refugee, as the others applauded him.
Another refugee wondered why those DRC nationals that had fled war from their various communities and were not intent on returning to these but other areas of that country were not being allowed to do so under the voluntary repatriation framework.
On the war situation in one of the two Kivus, Tshibal said he was a vice-governor for Katanga and that in his province there was no war.
He said before referring the question to Kiriza, who was the head of delegation, that there was an on-going operation to clean up some rebel forces that were in the bush and he assured the refugees that calm would return to Kivu.
Kiriza said the skirmishes in Kivu were as a consequence of some (Intahamwe) that had been forced back to their country, Rwanda that were committing the killings along the way.
Tshibal told the refugees to return to the DRC and that from there they could choose any part of the Congo where they wanted to settle.
And on the free education programme in Moba, Tshibal said he would leave that to the UNHCR but he told the refugees that they were at an advantage because some of them could even speak English and that they could be employed by many organizations in DRC.
Tshibal said some former refugees had become members of parliament in the DRC.
This was in response to a question from a female refugee who wanted to know what the DRC government would do to provide employment to the returnees because currently most graduates in that country, unlike in Zambia, were loitering the streets.
Labels: KATANGA PROVINCE, REFUGEES, YAV TSHIBAL
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COMMENT - But wasn't Indeni breaking down all the time, and didn't the economy grind to a halt when it was up for repairs? But now they have a temporary surplus, and they want to export it to the DRC, instead of creating stocks for when they are repairing again. :-/
Indeni seeks to supply Congo mines
ZAMBIA’S only oil refinery has asked the government to authorise exports of finished petroleum products to copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), officials said last week.
Zambia had been importing petrol and diesel in recent months as a result of normal maintenance at its Indeni Oil Refinery. A sudden surplus of fuel coupled with storage limits has led the refinery to ask permission to export to Congo.
"It is very clear that we now have more fuel than is required at the moment and the only way out is to export to the mines in the DRC like has been the case in the past," a senior official in the Ministry of Energy and Water Development said on condition of anonymity.
Indeni General manager, Fred Zama, told journalists that the refinery is eager to resume the exports following the arrival of 90,000 tonnes of crude oil at a mooring facility in Tanzania, the official said.
Indeni already exports 1,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas to east Africa and hopes to soon include diesel and gasoline in its shipments
The government has directed the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to tell oil marketing companies to cease fuel imports in an effort to ensure that existing inventories were first cleared through the market.- Reuters.
Labels: DRC, FUEL, INDENI, KATANGA PROVINCE
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DRC to meet financial obligation on Chembe bridge
By Mwila Chansa and Mwala Kalaluka in Chembe
Friday July 25, 2008 [04:00]
DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi has said his government will ensure that it meets its financial obligation on the Chembe bridge construction project. And Katumbi commended President Levy Mwanawasa and the Zambian government for the “marvelous accomplishment” on the construction of the K46 billion bridge across the Luapula River During a conducted tour of the bridge project with Zambian government officials yesterday, Katumbi said it was important that the DRC met its 50 per cent financial obligation on the project in retrospect.
“This is very good. I just want to congratulate the President (Mwanawasa) and I hope he is recovering soon, everyone is praying for him,” Katumbi said. “I was coming in Luapula at my fish business, I am from Luapula and I had my fishing camp in Nchelenge, I know how people suffered there on the pontoon (at Chembe).”
Katumbi also commended China Henan, the contractor and Kiran and Musonda Associates, the consultants, for the remarkable progress on the project earmarked for completion on September 28 this year.
Katumbi said his delegation, which was visiting the project for the first time was in the country to discuss with its Zambian counterparts the tarring of the 68-kilometre long Pedical Road which connects Luapula to Copperbelt via the DRC’s Katanga Province.
He also suggested that it would be appropriate to set up a 24-hour one-stop border post at the bridge.
Katumbi pledged that his government would ensure that the people at Mwenda in DRC relocated towards the bridge.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Chriticles Mwansa assured the DRC delegation that a legal framework to facilitate the establishment of a one-stop border point was in place.
Henry Musonda of Kiran Musonda and Associates said the width of the bridge, which is 10 metres was enough to allow two vehicles to cross at the same time.
Meanwhile, Katumbi said he would send a chopper to ferry the DRC’s Lunda King, Mwanta Yanvwa, to attend the Umutomboko of the Lunda people of Luapula.
Officials who were part of the Zambian government delegation included Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima, his Luapula counterpart Crispin Musosha, works and supply deputy minister Mundia Ndalamei and permanent secretaries Clement Siame (Luapula) and Jennipher Musonda (Copperbelt).
Labels: BORDERS, CHEMBE BRIDGE, CHRITICLES MWANSA, DRC, KATANGA PROVINCE, KATUMBI, MWANAWASA, ZRA
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Katumbi urges Finance Bank to establish branch in DRC
By Gweny Phiri in Kasumbalesa
Tuesday July 01, 2008 [04:00]
DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province Governor Moses Katumbi has urged Finance Bank to extend its operations beyond Zambia and open a branch in that country to boost economic development. And Finance Bank chairperson, Rajan Mahtani has reiterated the bank’s resolve to serve the remotest and previously under-banked rural communities through opening of branches in strategic areas.
During the opening of Finance Bank Kasumbalesa Branch in Chililabombwe last Friday, Katumbi said the DRC’s economy was experiencing tremendous growth hence the need for strong banks.
Katumbi said Katanga Province had recorded increased exports which could further increase if communities accessed competitive banking services from reputable organisations like Finance Bank.
Katumbi hailed the cordial relationship currently existing between Zambia and the DRC saying there was need for cooperation to enhance economic and social development of the two countries.
And Mahtani said the opening of Finance Bank Kasumbalesa Branch was essential in facilitating and formalising trade between Zambia and the DRC and that the bank would consider opening a branch in that country in future.
He said the bank had a strong reputation of strategic bank positioning especially in border towns hence the opening of the first bank at Kasumbalesa border post.
"Our expansion programme has not been purely driven by profit motives but more importantly, to offer a service to the remotest and previously under-banked rural communities. Our Kasumbalesa branch will be pivotal in facilitating and formalising trade between the DRC and Zambia and quash the perception of the existence of an underground economy," he said.
Mahtani also praised the government for the stability, peace and prosperity, which had enabled Finance Bank to partner with Credit Suisse, an international bank of global repute, hence raising its capital portfolio.
Communication and transport minister, Dora Siliya, said there was need to roll the infrastructure development to the rural areas to enhance development.
She said the government wanted to be sure that the Information Communication and Technology (ICTs) were available to more people.
She said the banking infrastructure would also give a critical role in financing.
Siliya said the government would provide land for the people so that they put up a dry port in Kasumbalesa.
Labels: DRC, FINANCE BANK, KATANGA PROVINCE, KATUMBI, RAJAN MAHTANI
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