Sadc urged to resolve Dhlakama issue urgently PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 00:00
View Comments
[Afonso Dhlakama]
Afonso Dhlakama
Political Editor
The Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence, Peace and Security Co-operation
should convene an emergency meeting to deal with a potentially
volatile situation in Mozambique after former rebel leader Afonso
Dhlakama moved out of government and set up camp in the bush again.
Minister
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
* Dhlakama decamps into the bush
“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.
_______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
