By: Ernest Jumo
Harare, Zimbabwe: (News Of The South) –
Reports reaching ‘News Of The South’ say the Zimbabwe Government could be sending its military to war against Islamic terrorists in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province soon.
Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique.
Since a 2017 5 October, pre-dawn raid targeting 3 police stations in the town of Mocímboa da Praia which killed 17 people, insurgency has escalated in the mainly Muslim province.
Up to 2 000 people are reported to have been killed and about 430 000 left homeless in the conflict.
Zimbabwe, fearing for security and disruption of critical imports and exports through the Port of Beira, is said to be considering deploying its military to counter the insurgency.
It is also feared that the terrorists could spill into Zimbabwe. Unnamed military sources, quoted by the ‘NewsHawks’ online, confirmed high military level meetings and the possibility of going to war in Mozambique.
“Meetings are being held on a regular basis and we are most likely to intervene in the war,” a high-ranking military is quoted.
“There are preparations going on and indications are that if things continue to worsen, we will send troops there,” he said
The source also blamed other SADC countries for reluctance to send troops to Mozambique.
However, separate reports suggest that Mozambique President Felipe Nyusi had refused a SADC military, opting for direct intervention from Zimbabwe.
It is also rumoured that Mozambique had also requested assistance from at least two external private military contractors, South Africa’s Dyck Advisory Group and Russia’s Wagner Group to fight the terrorists in Cabo Delgado.
Meanwhile, replying to the claims, The Zimbabwe Defence Ministry said that its military would only intervene in the framework of the SADC Brigade.
‘Please note that intervention in that conflict will be done within the framework of the SADC Brigade. Zimbabwe as a member contributed troops and equipment to the brigade that will be deployed for such missions,” read part of the Defence Ministry statement.
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