Africa-Press – Mozambique. A group of 36 former militiamen from Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, on Friday concluded their police training that will allow them to become members of the defence and security forces.
The group consisted of 29 men and seven women who joined 573 other young Mozambicans who concluded basic police courses at the Oswaldo Tazama Police Sergeants School in Nhamatanda district in the central province of Sofala. The inclusion of the former Renamo guerrillas was part of the current demobilization, disarming and reintegration (DDR) of the Renamo militia.
Chairing the concluding ceremony, President Filipe Nyusi said the 36 former Renamo militia members “underwent special training and they will join the thousands of Mozambicans who, day and night, are working for the defence of law and order, who are defending our gains and our sovereignty and who are doing everything so that Mozambique may live in effective peace”.
Yesterday, he continued, the former Renamo guerrillas were people who clashed with the defence and security forces on the battlefield, but, thanks to the trust that has been built, they are now on the same training course, and are ready “to face the common enemies of Mozambicans, including terrorism and crime”.
“You may receive specific and differentiated tasks in order to make use of the experience that each of you possesses”, Nyusi said, “but never forget that you have sworn to defend the country as a whole and that you all obey a single chain of command”.
He urged all those who still call themselves members of the Renamo Military Junta to join the demobilization. “This is your opportunity to join the DDR”, he said.
He warned that there will be no demobilization benefits for anyone who rejects this chance and continues to fight against the Mozambican state. If such people die in clashes with the defence and security forces, there will be no benefits for their dependents.
“Nobody can be a member of the Military Junta, continuing to ambush vehicles and burn crops, and then turn round and say ‘I was from Renamo, or my father was with Renamo and now I should benefit from the DDR’. The DDR is here and now”.
What remained of the Military Junta appeared to collapse following the death of its leader, Mariano Nhongo, on 11 October, However, there have subsequently been two attacks on vehicles on the main north-south road (EN1) in Sofala province, the most recent last Wednesday. It is not clear whether the culprits were remnants of the military junta.
Nyusi promised continuous government investment in police training, as part of the national defence and security strategy. “Our vision is that human capital is the best investment to ensure the progress and well-being of Mozambicans”, he declared.
He warned that although the recent discoveries of mineral resources “provide opportunities for development, they also pose potential threats to national security”.
Hence the police required “innovative, balanced and pro-active responses in harmony with other sectors of the defence and security forces and with brother countries”.
The police training course, he said, took place at a sensitive moment, with the defence and security forces, and their allies from Rwanda and SADC, fighting against terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Nyusi wanted to see an increase in effective police operations against the terrorist groups.
“Your presence in the Northern Operational Theatre, alongside more experienced comrades-in-arms, will produce positive synergies and contribute to greater security, tranquility and public order for the population who have been martyred by terrorist barbarity”, Nyusi declared.
He noted that terrorist raids have spread over the provincial boundary into Mecula district, in Niassa province. “There are noises in Mecula, and we must clear this up rapidly. We cannot waste time”, the President declared.
