Witness to Kabila shooting in prison
By Alex Duval Smith, Africa Correspondent
09 April 2001The only known witness to the assassination of President
Laurent-Désiré Kabila is being held in solitary confinement in a Kinshasa
jail and is receiving food only every other day, according to diplomats and
sources in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Emile Mota, the late president's economics adviser, was briefing Mr Kabila on
16 January when an assassin shot the DRC leader at point-blank range. A week
later, a terrified Mr Mota gave The Independent an exclusive account of
events.
It is understood that Mr Mota, 44, a doctor in mining economics, was arrested
on 14 March as part of a security sweep including several other men who were
close to Mr Kabila. The country is now being led by his son, Joseph Kabila.
According to sources in Zimbabwe which is an ally of Kinshasa in the war
against rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda Mr Mota is being held in Block
1, Cell 5 of the notorious Makala prison in the capital.
Another source, which contacted The Independent, from the DRC said: "He is
being held under the pretext that he is the only witness. During his only
contact with the outside, he expressed that his case be known to The
Independent.
The DRC ambassador to Zimbabwe, Kikaya Bin Karubi, said Mr Mota was being
held to facilitate investigations into Mr Kabila's murder.
