‘Zim concerned with situation in Mozambique’

Columbus Mabika, Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWE is concerned with the deteriorating security situation in Mozambique which is threatening national interests and the regional security environment, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking during the graduation of the Junior Staff Course Number 81 at Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said the situation in Mozambique following recent elections posed challenges to the country’s economic development as it was Zimbabwe’s life line to the sea.

“We continue to monitor with great concern, the security threats prevailing in the region particularly Mozambique and eastern DRC.

“We are following these security developments with a keen eye,” she said.

“We are also disturbed with developments in the global security environment which is currently characterised by unprecedented tensions among and between leading powerful nations.”

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the increased use of unregulated means of warfare in recent conflicts such as biological warfare was making the world unsafe to live in.

She said the presence of allied students in the staff course was true testimony of the strong regional defence and security co-operation which is essential in bolstering inter-operability in the African Standby Force arrangements.

In line with the Second Republic’s thrust on engagement and re-engagement, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe had signed a number of agreements on defence co-operation with countries on the continent and beyond.

The agreements, she said, are aimed at promoting military co-operation in areas of training, exchange of intelligence, joint exercises, transfer of military technology and joint research and development and production of military hardware.

Turning to conditions of service in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government remains committed to improving the welfare of members of the ZDF.