Opposition boycott Kabila speech

Mr Kabila is only the second foreign leader to address Zimbabwe's parliament

Zimbabwe's leading opposition party has boycotted a special address to parliament by Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila.

All 56 lawmakers from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) stayed away as Mr Kabila delivered a 30-minute address, also attended by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

Opposition members are disgraceful for walking out as President Kabila addressed parliament. This is wrong

President Mugabe

The MDC opposes President Robert Mugabe's 1998 decision to commit some 12,000 soldiers - or about one-third of Zimbabwe's army - to shore up DR Congo government troops against Ugandan and Rwandan-backed rebels.

"The involvement of Zimbabwe in the DRC has brought untold suffering to the ordinary men and women of Zimbabwe who suffer fuel and food shortages directly attributable to the millions of Zimbabwean money pumped into the DRC war," their statement said.

Mr Mugabe later blasted the MDC for boycotting the speech, describing them on state TV as "imbeciles".

Praise for Mugabe

"Opposition members are disgraceful for walking out as President Kabila addressed parliament. This is wrong. I hope they realise that soon," Mr Mugabe said to cheering supporters at the airport, where he saw off Mr Kabila on his return to Kinshasa.

Kabila is not an elected president and has made no similar contribution to the struggle for freedom [as Nelson Mandela]

MDC statement

In his speech Mr Kabila praised President Mugabe for his military support during the Central African country's civil war.

"Zimbabweans have all reasons to be proud of what they have accomplished in the Democratic Republic of Congo," he said.

The MDC also said in a statement that it boycotted the session because it did not consider Mr Kabila worthy of the honour of addressing parliament because he was not an elected leader.

Outstanding leaders

Mr Kabila was only the second foreign head of state to address the Zimbabwe parliament after Nelson Mandela, the former leader of South Africa.

The MDC said that such occasions should be "reserved for outstanding world leaders who merit being honoured."

It said that Mr Mandela was accorded that honour because of his stature and "outstanding contribution to the struggle for freedom" in his country.