admin
Counsellor in charge of affairs at the Mozambican embassy in Harare Isac Massamby said Dhlakama called a battalion of former rebels back to their old military base close to Gorongosa Game Park last week.
Political observers say the region should take the threats seriously as Dhlakama’s actions were tantamount to declaration of a civil war in Mozambique.
Dhlakama’s party, Renamo, has been represented in parliament for over 20 years following the end of a 16-year-old civil war.
Observers argued that Zimbabwe was likely to be affected most since a war situation in Mozambique would force it to intervene to defend its economic interests.
Speaking to The Herald yesterday, political observer and media expert Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri said Sadc was supposed to take the threats seriously as the war situation would suck in many countries.
Also see
“These are serious threats and if there is a Renamo insurrection Zimbabwe will be forced to move in to protect her economic interests. Last time our army had to move in and capture Gorongosa. We will end up being drawn into the chaos. There is a need for a quick resolution to the crisis.
“The Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence, Peace and Security Co-operation should convene an emergency meeting to deal with the situation in Mozambique. The only problem is that Sadc takes too much time to respond to a crisis situation in the region,” he said.
Dr Mhiripiri said history in the region had shown that all those that decided to go into the bush against the wishes of the majority ended up being killed.
Another political observer Professor John Makumbe concurred with Dr Mhiripiri that it was unfortunate that peace built over the last 20 years was under threat in Mozambique.
He said it was clear that Dhlakama was not doing this for the people of Mozambique but to pursue selfish political ambitions.
Zimbabwe has economic interests to protect in Mozambique that include an oil pipeline from Beira and road and rail infrastructure.
that links the country’s industry with the outside world.
Speaking to the media last week Dhlakama claimed he did not want war, but did not rule out clashes if his followers were attacked. Mozambique’s independent weekly newspaper, Savanna, last Friday quoted Dhlakama as saying: “I will not leave here unless all my demands are met.”
Dhlakama reportedly left for Gorongosa with 800 men. However, Minister Massamby said the problem with Dhlakama was that he had always been vacillating ever since he joined government two decades ago. He once moved his operating station from Maputo to Nampula and now has moved to his former military base in Gorongosa. Renamo’s demands include greater inclusion of its former fighters in the country’s armed forces and revisions of election laws.
The rebels also want power to veto election results after accusing Frelimo of fraud in previous polls.
Online Reporter