AN ancestor of the king who met and welcomed David Livingstone as he explored the northern Congo has made a visit to the explorer's homeland.

Vice Governor of Kinshasa, Bafiba Zomba Clement-Patrice, the great-great grandson of King Nzinga Nkuvu, paid a visit to the David Livingstone Centre at Blantyre, Lanarkshire. Kinshasa is the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, The event took place during a delegation's visit to Scotland touring waste disposal sites and recycling facilities. It is hoped the fact-finding mission will help officials put a proper waste management policy in place in the DRC capital.

Another member of the group, Ruffin Bangu Mbuandi Pwaty, who is leading the delegation and is also distantly related to King Nzinga Nkuvu, explained the significance of the visit.

He said: "David Livingstone is highly regarded in the DRC, especially as he fought for the abolition of slavery.

"Everyone has heard of him and the Vice Governor and myself are very proud of the fact that we are related to a king who met him while he was exploring in Africa.

"This trip to the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre is a great way to end what has been a very informative and worthwhile trip to Scotland."

The visitors are the first official fact-finding delegation to leave the DRC on a foreign trip since the African state emerged from civil war and held elections last year.