DICKSON JERE and SAM MUJUDA, Luanda | Monday 2.45pm.
Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi is still receiving arms from the international community, his former secretary general and leader of the Unita splinter group, General Euginio Manuvakola, has charged.
Manuvakola, speaking at the celebrations to mark the 4th anniversary of the stalled Lusaka Peace Protocol on Friday, could not name the countries supplying arms to Unita but hinted that the arms were manufactured in Eastern Europe. “Of course, they pass through some African countries to Savimbi. He is still receiving arms and planes may be going through Rwanda,” Manuvakola said.
He futher confirmed that there is a rebellion against Savimbi within Unita. He said the rebel movement is trying to find a new leadership committed to the implementation of the Lusaka Peace Protocol.
“It is time to find an alternative leadership in Unita,” Manuvakola, who signed the 1994 protocol on Unita’s behalf. “Unita is trying to perform a total transformation. Savimbi’s leadership only tries to serve the interests of the highest members,” he said, adding that Savimbi is a war criminal who should be arrested. Angola’s minister of local government and territorial administration, Fernando Faustino Muteka, warned on Friday that after “conquering” the Democratic Republic of Congo rebels, Zimbabwe and Namibia will send their troops to Angola to fight Savimbi.