MOZAMBIQUE-POLITICS: BIG DREAMS AND SLIM CHANCES/CORRECTED REPEAT

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

JOSEPHINE MASIMBA

MAPUTO, Nov 10 1994 (IPS) - JACINTO FERNANDO’S OUTWARD CALMNESS BELIES THE QUIET AGGRESSIVENESS OF THIS FORMER GOVERNMENT ARMY SECOND-LIEUTENANT.

AS HE WATCHES DEMOBILISED SOLDIERS CLAMOURING AROUND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANSIATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM), HE SAYS: “I JUST WANT TO GET ON WITH MY OWN LIFE NOW.

“WE SOLDIERS ARE FED UP WITH FIGHTING, BUT THERE MAY BE TROUBLE IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT TAKE GOOD CARE OF US,” THE 28-YEAR-OLD FATHER OF THREE TOLD IPS.

THIS VEILED THREAT IS UPPERMOST IN THE MINDS OF MANY IN MOZAMBIQUE, WHO VIEW DEMOBILISED TROOPS AS A POTENTIAL POWDER- KEG THAT MAY BLOW THE COUNTRY’S FRAGILE PEACE TO SMITHEREENS UNLESS CAREFULLY HANDLED.

“WE’VE TRIED OUR BEST BUT WE REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN,” A UN EMPLOYEE ADMITS. “THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT TO DEVISE A PROGRAMME TO REINTEGRATE THESE PEOPLE INTO CIVILIAN SOCIETY BUT REALLY, HOW CAN YOU?”.

ABOUT 96,000 TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEMOBILISED FROM BOTH SIDES UNDER THE TERMS OF THE 1992 ROME ACCORD WHICH ENDED A BITTER CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE RULING FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF MOZAMBIQUE (FRELIMO) AND THE MOZAMBICAN NATIONAL RESISTANCE (RENAMO).

HOWEVER, PROGRAMMES TO REINTEGRATE THE FORMER FIGHTERS INTO CIVILIAN LIFE BEING ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND DONORS MAY RUN AGROUND.

THEY FACE PROBLEMS OF INADEQUATE FUNDING, THE LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF MOST SOLDIERS, AND THE HIGH NUMBER OF ARMS AND DISGRUNTLED FORMER FIGHTERS THAT REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY.

CRITICS FORESEE A MAJOR CLASH BETWEEN SOLDIERS HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND THE HARSH REALITIES OF A LIFE IN A COUNTRY BATTLING TO REBUILD ITS WAR-SHATTERED ECONOMY.

“A LOT OF THESE GUYS EXPECT THE PROMISES OF WAR-TIME PROPAGANDA TO BE FULFILLED NOW,” A UN SOURCE NOTES. “SOME GENERALS EXPECT LARGE TRACTS OF LAND TO BE GIVEN TO THEM, PLUS FARMING EQUIPMENT AND PAID FOR LABOURERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR.

“NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THAT CAN’T BE DONE FOR ALL THE FORMER FIGHTERS”.