via Govt urged to ‘steer clear of Mozambique’ | SW Radio Africa by Nomalanga Moyo October 30, 2013
A senior official has indicated that the Zim government could intervene in neighbouring Mozambique following reports of a renewed RENAMO insurgency, which has already claimed the lives of at least 58 people.
International press last week quoted Foreign Affairs deputy minister Christopher Mutsvangwa as saying that Zimbabwe could intervene in Mozambique.
Mutsvangwa is reported as having told the British Broadcasting Corporation that “it will be misguided for RENAMO to bring instability and expect Zimbabwe to watch.”
Tensions are said to be rising between the Mozambican government troops and the rebels, leading to speculation that this could escalate into a crisis that could suck in neighbouring countries.
Following Mutsvangwa’s remarks, MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai told the NewsDay newspaper that Zimbabwe could not afford to intervene in the Mozambican crisis and suggested that the two parties should talk instead.
“We do not have the capacity to launch another military intervention in Mozambique,” Tsvangirai reportedly said before adding: “I think the Mozambican issue is an internal matter which should be resolved through dialogue.”
The former prime minister has already been criticised for his remarks by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, who felt that the latter did not have the mandate to speak about what the country could or couldn’t do.
Political commentator Rejoice Ngwenya said he did not think Zimbabwe was seriously considering any military intervention in Mozambique.
Ngwenya said firstly, he did not believe that the RENAMO rebels had the capacity to sustain their insurgency.
“The only problem I see arising is when ZANU PF then uses this insurgence as an excuse to re-invest in more military hardware on the pretext that they are defending the borders with Mozambique,” Ngwenya said.
Ngwenya added that if there was any intervention in Mozambique, it can only be done through either the African Union or the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“Any intervention would have to be as part of a resolution by these two bodies, it’s not a question of ZANU PF and the Mozambican government phoning each other to arrange an intervention. It doesn’t work like that.
“Our parliament will have to also debate the costs involved. We need water, electricity and food here in Zimbabwe and we don’t need to intervene on matters that really do not require our intervention, Mozambique can manage without us,” Ngwenya added.
RENAMO was formed in the 1970s and encouraged by the then white-ruled Rhodesia’s intelligence service, which recruited Mozambicans opposed to liberation movement FRELIMO.
When white rule ended in Zimbabwe in 1980, RENAMO was adopted by South Africa’s apartheid military to try to thwart black nationalism on borders from Angola to Mozambique.
COMMENTS
Aiwaka—let the mocicans solve their own problems. Did u ever c them being involved inZim matters? No , never so let that be their matter. We have enough of our own problems. Thank you .
WERE THEY MOSLEMS, IT WOULD SUICIDAL TO JOIN THE INTERNAL SQUABLE! REMEMBER WESTGATE IN KENYA!
Mugabe wants to drink blood again. Our children are failing to go to school due to hunger is that not top priority why has some politician not made a decision or comment yet, is it because to them its not a priority but WAR. ITS A SHAME SHAME SHAME TO HAVE MUGABE AS PRESIDENT.
Its a Mozambican problem, as Mugabe was so voiceless to say Zimbabwe problem is for Zimbabweans, knowing very well that by isolating the international community he will bully them. So let Mozambicans deal with the matter, Zimbabwe must not interven other wise the same international community or any country that feels its interest are under threat in Zimbabwe by ZANU PF remaining in power should interven
I second you on that point Bruce. Its a sovereign state and let it be left alone. They haven’t asked for our help and if they do which they won’t because they know we have too much on our plate already.
Govt urged to ‘steer clear of Mozambique’
The title is so very misleading. You would expect to find authoritative international forums like UN Security Concil, regional bodies like AU, SADC, and powerful international figures like the Catholic Pope , wealthy businessman such as Bill Gates, Think Tanks and Intellectual fundis’like Professor so and so, being quoted and involved in the ‘urging’ of government business. But lo and behold, just two lost fools-piddling nobodies turn up for the show. One mentally unstable commentator,and a former prime minister of this and that country never famed for anything other than ‘Thigh Reseach’ and brain kwashioker.The writer surely scribes a whole article around hallucinations of these two street vedors? One vends ‘tsvang-lies’ and the other ‘mental kwashioker’. Shame, shame, shame!
Why should Bill Gates or the UN be the ones to say Zim should stay away from the Moz war?are they zimbos?it starts with us to say that not somebody in the states.as a zimbo my voice is authoritative enough.i say no to the moz war.
@Jogo Bonita
Just Listen to your sodding sorry self
“…as a zimbo my voice is authoritative enough.i say no to the moz war.”
And you think your hoarse voice will become National Security- JOC policy? When the Zimbabwe Armed Forces rolled tanks into DRC in 1997 were you on voice mail? You shold have seen the majestic US army blasting Baghdad in 2003 whilst dissenting American voices wailed hoarse like yourself. Get a life! And a brain!And common Sense!
At the moment we need every dollar we can lay our hands on.There is a shortage of power, water and infrastructure is dilapidated.
Furthermore the Americans and their allies will have been presented with an opportunity to finish us off, so logic will only demand we stay away from the Moscan crisis.
Political maturity, minister Moyo, requires that you create a situation where every Zimbo can comment on issues Zimbabwean than to remind us of the pre GNU censorship. It makes us quake in our boots, sir.
If Zimbabwe enters into Mozambique this will not end the problems, but instead it will increase the blood sheed and many of our people mozambicas will go back to 1986 or worse let Mozambique alone
My comments are kept blocked on this forum. I am sure only people who are MDC sympathizers are allowed to make comments. Biased aint you.
U deserve it if u ar ZANU pf sympathiser. Why do u support a cruel regime which has condemned our country to economic oblivion
@Shame
Shame on you!!!
@SADC
Come on man,you are shaming the wrong folk here. Everyone, but yourself agrees to “Shame on tsvangi-lies and any other brainless idiot who thinks with a cork…”
I dont know how Tsvangirai’s mind functions, but let me tell him that the level of threat to road/rail infrastructure, our oil pipeline (in Mozambique) and the diamond mines (in Zimbabwe) will determine whether or not we are going to hold our fire.
We all want peace and we encourage Mozambicans to talk to each other, but I can assure our former prime minister that our economic interests do outclass our concern about what the West is going to think about us. Tsvangirai can grandstand any way he likes, but we are closely watching the Mozambican situation, with our guns loaded.
U ar just day dreaming. Your problem is u treat Zim as a personal prooerty. U can go in and fight that war but don’t forget that u will pay a price economically for that. Zim cannot feed its own pple so where do u think the money will come from to fight that war.
Yes my brother we will pay a price for standing up to terrorism, and we will pay even a greater price for not confronting terrorism.
Because they always over estimate themselves and have an exaggerated sense of self importance, they will intervene as they did in the DRC, and tomorrow when the economy further nose-dives, they will cry sanctions!!
Stupid gukrawundie fools!!
@Fungai
I commented on your posting about th Mozambique crisis a few days ago. We have your fellow Zanu fanatics like John they get to coMment but their comments are overwhelmed by better comments of people who think otherwise of Zanu. Didn’t you just comment the two of you lunatics.
@ Fungai
You are complaining that you have problems with putting comments and suggest that MDC supporting comments are the ones that only appear. You have just commentes again and I don’t understand you when you say you can’t post your comments. What did you just do?
If u have realised that its an MDC forum then go to a ZANU pf forum and leave us alone
@ Fungai
Did you see anywhere written Zanu in my comments. I don’t fancy writting it that much because…
The person who set out to polarize Zimbabwe has done a very good job. We no longer share a common thread nor national interests. A landlocked country, Mozambique provides our shortest and cheapest route to the sea. We get fuel through them and power from them. Can we afford an unstable Mozambique? In any case are we not bound by the SADC defense protocol? Since when has an opposition party demanded a share of national wealth as if these are spoils of war?
So glad Rejoice Ngwenya is still alive. I was getting worried by his hibernation post july 31st. I hear he discharged himself but he still comes with a personal safety warning. Approach with caution, person is unhinged!
Now mgb n his pf want to interven in moz cvl worz lyk they don’t hv their pscych workn.u said keep yo brtn n I well keep my zim so now keep yo zim n they wll keep their moz.wy dey want to be involved in a ludrous contract very tym