Issued by: Office of the Deputy President T M Mbeki
DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI TO VISIT THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND NAMIBIA
Deputy President Mr Thabo Mbeki will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 15-16 May, 1998.
The purpose of the Deputy President's visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo is to attend a Heads of State Summit on Solidarity and Development in the Great Lakes Region.
The DRC President Laurent Kabila will host the Summit.
Deputy President Mbeki will be accompanied by the Minister of Home Affairs Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Aziz Pahad and senior officials from the Office of the Deputy President and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
It is expected that the Deputy President will return to South Africa on Saturday 16 May 1998.
On Sunday 17 may 1998 Deputy president thabo Mbeki will depart for a two day visit to Namibia to attend the Southern Africa Economic Summit hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
During the Summit the Deputy President will participate in two panel discussions:
Joaquim Chissano - President of Mozambique
Sam Nujoma - President of Namibia
Kaire Mbuende - Executive Secretary of SADC.
Panellists include:
Frederick Chiluba - President of Zambia
Laurent Kabila - President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Kaire Mbuende - Executive Secretary of SADC
Malcom Hughes - Chief Executive Officer, Proudfoot, United Kingdom.
Klaus Schwab - President of the WEF
Chris Liebenberg - Chairman of NEDCOR
Victor Moll - Managing Director Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe.
It is also expected that the Deputy President will engage in bilateral discussions with various captains of industry and other leading opinion makers.
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki will return to South Africa on Tuesday 19 May 1998.
Issued by: Nthabiseng Rantao Deputy Director - Communications
Date: 13 May 1998
More information: Democratic Republic of Congo Ricky Naidoo Cell. 083-5555189
Namibia visit Nthabiseng Rantao Cell. 082-570-5503