A donation by South Africa of military surplus equipment to Mozambique came at the right time for the country — two work boats will be used to save people left stranded by floods.
About 43 000 people are stranded in western Mozambique after heavy rains and floods in the area. The Shire River, the main tributary of the Zambezi, flooded its banks, submerging several islands in the river.
On Saturday, the South African Navy supply ship SAS Drakensberg dropped 150 tonnes of military surplus equipment in Maputo, including two work boats that can be used on the rivers.
”The Mozambican Defence Force needs a lot of logistical equipment which helps in one of its major tasks — fighting natural disasters in the country,” Mozambican Minister of Defence Tobias Dai said during the handing-over ceremony on board the Drakensberg.
Also included in the equipment donated by South Africa were medical and firefighting equipment, uniforms and even desks and cabinets. A ferry boat to be used to transport Mozambican navy marines between bases was also on the list.
South African Rear Admiral Koos Louw said the two work boats were used by the South African Navy to work on rivers and could help the Mozambican Defence Force carry out emergency operations.
Mozambique suffers from frequent flooding. In 2000 and 2001, floods killed hundreds of people and left thousands homeless.
South Africa’s donation was, however, considered before this year’s flooding and kept in mind another threat faced by both countries — ocean piracy.
”If media reports are to be believed, we are informed that this cancer might spread towards our own water. We also face the danger of the plunder of our marine resources,” said South African Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George, who donated the equipment on South Africa’s behalf.
He said there are clear indications of piracy along the West African coast and on the Horn of Africa. ”It is therefore clear that working together and sharing resources will go along in securing our economic zone from piracy and protecting our marine resources.”
South Africa donated patrol boats to Mozambique two years ago, which were armed and used for coastal patrols. ”One of the boats was used up north where it was known there was a problem with illegal fishing. Since it has been deployed there, the problem has subsided substantially,” Louw said.
George also indicated that South Africa might make use of its new military hardware if piracy becomes a bigger problem. ”Recently South Africa acquired frigates and submarines as part of its strategic defence package. These were not acquired for the benefit of our country alone, but also of the region and continent,” he said. — Sapa