Shingai Nyoka

It's being hailed as a momentous occasion. Zimbabwe, which has struggled to honor its 2020 compensation agreement signed with local white farmers, today announced the first payout, 3.1 million dollars, which will cover close to 400 farms. It's a tiny fraction, just 1% of the total compensation value for these properties. The remainder will be paid through US-dollar-denominated treasury bonds.

It's being hailed as a momentous occasion. Zimbabwe, which has struggled to honor its 2020 compensation agreement signed with local white farmers, today announced the first payout, 3.1 million dollars, which will cover close to 400 farms. It's a tiny fraction, just 1% of the total compensation value for these properties. The remainder will be paid through US-dollar-denominated treasury bonds.

Artificial Intelligence can predict all manner of things, from the weather to traffic jams to health risks.

Artificial Intelligence can predict all manner of things, from the weather to traffic jams to health risks.

It didn't come as a complete surprise given the current circumstances. This mission was deployed in 2023 for a year and that mandate was renewed last December. And for many months it looked as if it was working. The troops held the front line to prevent the fall of the key city of Goma. But then that all changed in January.

It didn't come as a complete surprise given the current circumstances. This mission was deployed in 2023 for a year and that mandate was renewed last December. And for many months it looked as if it was working. The troops held the front line to prevent the fall of the key city of Goma. But then that all changed in January.

when that front line came under attack from the M23 rebels and Goma fell a few days later. And this mission, as you mentioned, has suffered casualties and that also resulted in backlashes back home. But I think what tipped the scales was a meeting of defense chiefs of those three contributing countries, which described the situation as untenable.

when that front line came under attack from the M23 rebels and Goma fell a few days later. And this mission, as you mentioned, has suffered casualties and that also resulted in backlashes back home. But I think what tipped the scales was a meeting of defense chiefs of those three contributing countries, which described the situation as untenable.

And as we speak, hundreds of troops are essentially trapped in rebel-controlled areas. And so in this emergency summit hosted by Zimbabwe today and the third emergency summit, there was a decision announced to terminate the mission, but also to begin a phased withdrawal of the troops.

And as we speak, hundreds of troops are essentially trapped in rebel-controlled areas. And so in this emergency summit hosted by Zimbabwe today and the third emergency summit, there was a decision announced to terminate the mission, but also to begin a phased withdrawal of the troops.

It's a significant blow. And I think the major issue is that for all of these 18 months or so, or however many months that was, Kinshasa had SADC on its side. It had a very strong mandate to support the DRC forces, but now they've essentially been defeated.

It's a significant blow. And I think the major issue is that for all of these 18 months or so, or however many months that was, Kinshasa had SADC on its side. It had a very strong mandate to support the DRC forces, but now they've essentially been defeated.

And some analysts I spoke to earlier said that now SADC will probably be forced to adopt a more neutral position, working with other regional groupings. The military support has been withdrawn. It's a blow, but the The SADC had also pledged to deploy more forces, thousands more troops and more equipment to help in the fight. But now they've been forced into a rather embarrassing retreat.

And some analysts I spoke to earlier said that now SADC will probably be forced to adopt a more neutral position, working with other regional groupings. The military support has been withdrawn. It's a blow, but the The SADC had also pledged to deploy more forces, thousands more troops and more equipment to help in the fight. But now they've been forced into a rather embarrassing retreat.

And so that definitely puts President Felix Tshisekedi on the back foot.

And so that definitely puts President Felix Tshisekedi on the back foot.

Well, there have been talks about the U.S. possibly filling the gap. It's all talks at the moment. A Congolese government official told the BBC that they wanted to bring the U.S. on board to supply them with critical minerals. But also they said that they might talk about security. But there's nothing concrete right now.

Well, there have been talks about the U.S. possibly filling the gap. It's all talks at the moment. A Congolese government official told the BBC that they wanted to bring the U.S. on board to supply them with critical minerals. But also they said that they might talk about security. But there's nothing concrete right now.

And so the burden has fallen back on the U.N., which has had a mission there for years. And South Africa also contributes about a thousand or so troops there. But I think really the focus now was on trying to negotiate a peace deal.

And so the burden has fallen back on the U.N., which has had a mission there for years. And South Africa also contributes about a thousand or so troops there. But I think really the focus now was on trying to negotiate a peace deal.