By PETER SICHALI
THE Border dispute between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been resolved after parties sought arbitration of Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation Chaired by Zimbabwe deputized by Botswana, Foreign affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has said.
“We sought neutral arbitration from Zimbabwe and Botswana being the chair and deputy for Troika organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on this matter and it has since been resolved,” Mr Malanji said.
Zambia and the DRC were in May this year locked in a bitter wrangle over the control of a territory along the border.
The dispute erupted when the DRC accused Zambia of moving to occupy part of its territory in Moba region.
The Congolese government resultantly beefed up its military presence in the area, leading to clashes between soldiers from the two countries, and sparking fears of war.
The DRC-Zambia border dispute dates back to the colonial era and has flared on and off since the British and the Belgians divided up Zambia and the DRC for themselves.
According to Zimbabwean local publication Southern Times, SADC deployed a team of technical experts in July to investigate the dispute. The team was expected to submit a detailed report to the chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
The Technical Experts Border Issue Team Mission was deployed following a clash of security forces on the DRC-Zambia border in the Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru/Mwero region in March this year.
The team was deployed on 23 July at Chibanga, Kibanga, Kalubamba, Musosa, Luchinda and Pweto towns along the border of the two countries.
The neighbouring countries were for nearly two months early this year locked in a bitter wrangle over the control of a territory along the border.
The dispute erupted when the DRC accused Zambia of moving to occupy part of its territory in Moba region.
The DRC-Zambia border dispute dates back to the colonial era and has flared on and off since the British and the Belgians divided up Zambia and the DRC for themselves.
