UNITA’s Zambian Connection

Angola's former rebel group UNITA lost its main supply route for weapons and other equipment in 1997 when governments were overthrown in Zaire and Congo-Brazzaville. But as I discovered and reported in early 1998, UNITA subsequently forged new transit routes -- one of the most important of which appeared to be in western Zambia.

Southern African security sources say the former rebel movement UNITA has made what they characterize as a considerable effort to develop an airfield outside Zambezi town in western Zambia as its main supply base.

These sources, who closely monitor military activities in the region, say the facility was originally developed during Angola's civil war to funnel western support to UNITA. They say the improvements made by UNITA during the past several months include the installation of underground fuel storage tanks and night landing lights. They say the runway is paved, and, at about three-thousand meters in length, it is capable of handling large cargo planes.

Aviation sources tell me they understand the privately-owned, four-engine South African cargo plane that was forced down in Angola on the 20th of january (1998) landed at UNITA's Zambezi facility to refuel before setting off on the flight on which it was intercepted by Angolan jet fighters.

The eight people on board have been taken into custody for violating UN travel sanctions against UNITA. Angolan authorities say the plane was heading for Bailundo, UNITA's current headquarters. Officials say the aircraft was carrying diamond mining equipment and other cargo.

Overland travel in the area around Zambezi is currently restricted by heavy rains, which Zambian residents say have made roads there impassable. Zambian newspapers this week reported heavy flooding close to Zambezi.

However, independent researchers who attempted to travel by road to Zambezi town during the last dry season to examine UNITA's activities were also unsuccessful.

One analyst probing illegal arms transfers in Africa tells me he was stopped in western Zambia well before reaching the town late last year by armed and uniformed UNITA troops.

The Zambian government repeatedly has denied supporting UNITA.

Last week, officials in Lusaka criticized an earlier report dealing with UNITA's military strength that mentioned the existence of facilities controlled by the former rebel movement in western Zambia. Zambia's foreign minister charged that what he called such "baseless allegations" were being made by people intent on destroying relations between Angola and Zambia.

Analysts acknowledge it is not official Zambian policy to allow support for UNITA to pass through Zambian territory. Zambia halted the operations of one private air cargo company suspected of running supply flights to UNITA in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

But security sources charge that in the area along the Angolan border, Zambian authorities appear to have little effective control. The accusations have proven embarassing to Zambia because it was in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, that the 1994 peace accord ending the Angolan civil war was signed.

Last week the Associated Press news service, quoting an Angolan newspaper, reported the Angolan army was training new commando units to strike at bases in neighboring countries where UNITA is suspected of operating. The AP report said the Ministry of Defense in Luanda confirmed the creation of the special units but declined comment on their possible missions.

Security sources say UNITA is continuing to bolster its arsenals despite its declaration last December that it had handed over all its weapons to the United Nations. These sources say UNITA has been buying small arms and ammunition as well anti-tank weapons and recently obtained more than one-dozen anti-aircraft guns. Angolan government authorities meanwhile continue to report the discovery of UNITA arms caches at various locations around the country.