Tweedledum and Tweedledee agreed to have a battle...
LOOKING at a map of the west coast of Africa just south of the equator, the diamond rich territory of northern Angola from Cabinda to Soyo is split in two, separated by a narrow strip of land.
That strip — a mere 37 kilometres along the coast — is all that protects Africa's third largest country from being landlocked. It has also provided a buffer zone between Angola's ruling MPLA and Unita rebels.
It was here, in the international waters just outside the 12 mile territorial limit, that the SAS Outeniqua anchored this week.
The South African navy's flagship, a converted Russian icebreaker, was hosting its commander-in-chief, President Mandela.
Standing by to come on board was Zaire's dying president Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga. Waiting in Angola to join the party was his arch-enemy, Laurent-Desire Kabila.
United States envoy Bill Richardson said it would never happen. Nevertheless, the Mandela Magic rose to the occasion. After 30 years, Kabila and Mobutu were brought face to face.
Why? Negotiation between these two at this stage seems to be straight out of Alice in Wonderland:
I passed by his garden, and marked, with
one eye,
How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie:
The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy, and meat,
While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat.
When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon,
Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon.
While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl,
And concluded the banquet by ...
In the past weeks, Kabila's supposedly threadbare forces have taken control of Zaire with surprising ease. The fall of the capital Kinshasa — the former Leopoldville — seems inevitable.
Why then, the Pan Africanist Congress has angrily demanded, is Madiba spending time out there when there are pressing problems at home?
"His attention should be focused here,'' said PAC's 2IC Motsoko Pheko. "Charity begins at home."
Stupid short-sighted snivelling... Are we doomed to opposition politicians who cannot see farther than pandering to the emotions of those who have no idea where Zaire is, let alone what it means to this country?
We are Zaire's biggest trading partner. Last year, that country bought close to R1-billion from us, mainly in foodstuffs and mining gear. Charity? Get a life! Is Madiba going to raise a billion by addressing a rally in Sebokeng?
In turn, we imported about US $113 million from Zaire, mainly copper and cobalt from the southern Shaba province. That province is now controlled by Kabila.
In Kinshasa, soldiers of Jonas Savimbi's Unita have been reported to be fighting alongside Mobutu's troops. To the south, Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos is reported to be backing Kabila's forces.
The Americans, the French, and the Portuguese have assembled troops to the north in the Congo, ostensibly to evacuate foreign nationals from Zaire should the need arise.
In between Zaire and South Africa lie our 11 partners in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Zaire's economic strength is roughly equal to theirs combined.
If Zaire embraces democracy, the tide will have been turned at last. Africa will have room to breathe, to plan a future not dependent on aid, but on trade. South Africa's presence will reduce the temptation for the west to create another Mobutu.