News / Africa
Mozambique disturbances, Zimbabwe readies its troops
11 Apr 2013 at 06:16hrs | Views
Zimbabwe says it is prepared for any aggression from Mozambique's Renamo rebels who are seeking to overthrow a constitutionally elected government amid reports of intensified joint military cooperation between the two neighbours.
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is prepared to defend its territorial integrity in the event that the rebel insurgency in Mozambique spills into the country.
Mozambican rebel leader, Afonso Dhlakama's rebel movement, Renamo has been on a rampage of late attacking civilians and setting up military camps in protest against what he said are unmet demands since the end of the country's civil war.
Meanwhile President Mugabe's loyalists have said Dhlakama is acting in collusion with the Americans and western countries who want to effect what they regime change by removing the Mozambican government from power.
In November last year, Zimbabwe deployed troops to its border with Mozambique as concern over military instability escalated.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has described recent reports suggesting that former Mozambican rebel group Renamo was contemplating going back to war as worrisome.
"We are very worried about possible instability in the region if war breaks out in Mozambique," said Gumbo.
"Our position as a party is very clear. We support national unity in Mozambique. We work with Frelimo as one of the liberation movements and we obviously will not entertain any rebellion in Mozambique," Gumbo said last week in a telephone interview.
Said Gumbo:"As far as we are concerned, we want continued peace in Mozambique. We are not going to entertain a situation that will be against the interests of Mozambique and the region. We will not support rebels and a movement which we think will be detrimental to Mozambique and the region."
Dhlakama has been quoted by AFP as saying he was prepared to go to war to achieve his demands.
"If it is necessary, we can go backwards. We prefer a poor country than to have people eating from our pot.
"I am training my men up and, if we need to, we will leave here and destroy Mozambique," he was quoted saying.
The party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangira MDC T has also raised fears against instability in the region if war breaks out in Mozambique, saying the African Union and the regional bloc should intervene urgently.
"The MDC is extremely worried about the political and security developments in Mozambique, especially the possibility of another civil war in that country
"The war in Mozambique will bring untold suffering to the people of Mozambique and beyond. Further, it will reverse all the economic, social and political gains that have been made so far.
"We urge the international community, especially Sadc and the African Union, to deal with the disturbing developments in Mozambique as a matter of urgency," the MDC T's standing committee said.
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is prepared to defend its territorial integrity in the event that the rebel insurgency in Mozambique spills into the country.
Mozambican rebel leader, Afonso Dhlakama's rebel movement, Renamo has been on a rampage of late attacking civilians and setting up military camps in protest against what he said are unmet demands since the end of the country's civil war.
Meanwhile President Mugabe's loyalists have said Dhlakama is acting in collusion with the Americans and western countries who want to effect what they regime change by removing the Mozambican government from power.
In November last year, Zimbabwe deployed troops to its border with Mozambique as concern over military instability escalated.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has described recent reports suggesting that former Mozambican rebel group Renamo was contemplating going back to war as worrisome.
"We are very worried about possible instability in the region if war breaks out in Mozambique," said Gumbo.
"Our position as a party is very clear. We support national unity in Mozambique. We work with Frelimo as one of the liberation movements and we obviously will not entertain any rebellion in Mozambique," Gumbo said last week in a telephone interview.
Dhlakama has been quoted by AFP as saying he was prepared to go to war to achieve his demands.
"If it is necessary, we can go backwards. We prefer a poor country than to have people eating from our pot.
"I am training my men up and, if we need to, we will leave here and destroy Mozambique," he was quoted saying.
The party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangira MDC T has also raised fears against instability in the region if war breaks out in Mozambique, saying the African Union and the regional bloc should intervene urgently.
"The MDC is extremely worried about the political and security developments in Mozambique, especially the possibility of another civil war in that country
"The war in Mozambique will bring untold suffering to the people of Mozambique and beyond. Further, it will reverse all the economic, social and political gains that have been made so far.
"We urge the international community, especially Sadc and the African Union, to deal with the disturbing developments in Mozambique as a matter of urgency," the MDC T's standing committee said.
Source - newsd
