Zimbabwe to train Mozambican troops

Tawanda Bote

Zimbabwe has pledged to assist in the training of Mozambique Armed Forces to help combat terrorism in the country’s Cabo Delgado region.

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told the media on Thursday that Zimbabwe would send a training team of 303 instructors to its neighbour.

“While other countries have to deploy combat troops, Zimbabwe pledged to assist in the training of Mozambique armed forces to enhance their capability to combat terrorism,” she said adding that the country will also second one specialist officer to the coordinating mechanism of the SADC Standby Force.

The contingent will be deployed to Mozambique once the Status of Force Agreement has been signed.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Parliament will be informed of the development in terms of Section 214 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

South Africa and Botswana have already deployed combat troops to quell the insurgence which has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands from Cabo Delgado.

This follows a decision by the SADC extraordinary summit of heads of state and government on 23 June this year to deploy elements of the SADC standby force to Mozambique.