Mercedes Sayagues
Swaziland’s claims on land south of Maputo bolstered supporters of Mozambique’s decision last year to reintroduce compulsory military service.
Mozambique, one of the world’s five poorest countries, will recruit 6 000 young men and women every year to strengthen its army.
The military service Bill was pushed through Parliament by the ruling party Frelimo. Renamo, former guerrilla force turned opposition party, angrily walked out of the assembly during the first discussion, then voted against the Bill. Nine independent MPs abstained.
Compulsory military service was abolished in the 1992 General Peace Agreement that ended the 16-year civil war between Frelimo and Renamo. The terms of the agreement included integrating the Mozambican army with 30 000 volunteers from both warring sides.
But Mozambicans were tired of war. Renamo and Frelimo soldiers chose to go home. Recruiting for the 1994 elections stopped at 12 000 troops and never resumed.
Renamo says hundreds of its soldiers are eager to join the army but have been ignored. “Frelimo will bring its own men to recreate the old one-party army,” warns Renamo MP Manuel de Fonseca. Renamo believes the Bill violates the 1992 peace accord.
The long-term solution, says Renamo, is that key issues of defence and Budget be approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, bypassing Frelimo’s majority.
Raul Domingos, Renamo’s bench leader, argues that Mozambique’s resources should go to urgent priorities like health, education, and the reconstruction of roads and railways.
“How much will it cost to feed, clothe, lodge, transport and train recruits?” he asks. “And why? What threat do we see when the region is in peace?”
Renamo wants a small, professional, well- trained, mobile army of between 12 000 to 18 000 soldiers. “If career and work conditions were better, we would have enough volunteers,” points out Fonseca. “Their main job should be to fight drug trafficking and illegal fishing.”
Most citizens in Maputo did not seem to know about the law. A vendor said he would rather flee to South Africa than join the army. Women said their role was not to be soldiers. An unemployed youth said he would join voluntarily if the pay was decent.
All remembered the tira-camisa [take shirts off] raids during the civil war, when young, mostly poor men were press-ganged into the army, sometimes staying for many years, poorly trained, ill-equipped and demoralised.
Frelimo MP Edgar Cossa acknowledges past abuses but assuages fears: “Regardless of race, religion and class, all recruitable youth will be registered.”
However, when asked who will be exempted among the 80 000 youths who turn 18 every year, Cossa says students may pay a “delaying tax” – just like in the past.
Privately, Renamo sources say army generals must be kept satisfied with war toys and boys – and hidden benefits from contracts. Portugal, India and Iran are said to be keen to supply the new Mozambican army.