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Zimbabwe losses add up in Congo
The Congo adventure has been heavily criticised in Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe has lost military equipment worth about $200m in the Democratic Republic of Congo since it began backing President Laurent Kabila's war against a rebellion, says an independent newspaper.
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Zimbabwean Defence Minister Moven Mahachi has refused to comment on the extent of the losses, saying he would do so only when the troops returned home.
"Yes, we have lost equipment in the war but I haven't quantified it. Publicity about our losses will not benefit Zimbabwe but enhance those we are fighting against," he said.
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Zimbabwe's losses |
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Transport planes |
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Three helicopter gunships |
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MiG fighter jet |
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Armoured carriers |
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Brazilian-made Cascavel armoured cars |
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Heavy ammunition |
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Communication systems |
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Source: Financial Gazette |
And despite protests at home, President Robert Mugabe is estimated to have about 11,000 soldiers, a third of his army, fighting alongside President Kabila's forces.
The authorities in Zimbabwe have trumpeted a number of potentially lucrative deals in areas such as diamonds, gold and copper with their Congolese counterparts which they say can recoup the costs of the army deployment.
However, economic and political observers are highly sceptical of the deals which they say are unlikely to prove as beneficial to Zimbabwe as the government suggests.
Western donors, led by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, have placed their aid programmes to Zimbabwe under review, citing military spending in Congo among the reasons.
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See also: |
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23 Sep 99 | Africa |
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Zimbabwe army in Congo diamond deal |
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01 Oct 99 | Africa |
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Zimbabwe accused of 'economic colonialism' |
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24 Jun 99 | Africa |
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Zimbabwe sends more troops to DR Congo |
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08 Jul 99 | Africa |
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Congo peace plan: the main points |
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Internet links: |
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The Herald |
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Zimbabwe Page |
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DR Congo government |
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New Congo Net |
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