By Tafadzwa Musarara, 27 October 2013
analysis
THE re-emergence of insurgencies being inflicted by RENAMO (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) in Mozambique threaten the economic interests of Zimbabwe and must be repelled with military might before further escalation occurs.
Given its historical banditry exploits, Renamo has double the capacity of Al Shabbab and Boko Haram combined and its actions can be least be described as deadly.
The recent attacks on Mozambique's security stations by RENAMO in the past six months is posing biggest risk to the flow of key fuel and food imports into Zimbabwe via Beira and Maputo.
Zimbabwe, last year, imported through Mozambique 1.4 billion liters of fuel, 250,000MT of wheat, more than 50,000MT of rice, more than 40,000MT of wheat flour, several thousands tones of fertilizers, agricultural inputs, fish, and vehicles.
It is apparent that if the RENAMO's current insurgencies escalate, these critical imports will be unable to reach our mainland and consequently cause serious food shortages and massive price hikes.
The Refugees exodus, which has already started, albeit, in small numbers, will grow out of control. The Zimbabwe Government, with its limited fiscal legroom, will undoubtedly be unable to financially attend to the needs of these refugees.
Further, the disappearance of the so called humanitarian NGOs after the July 31 plebiscite will only leave the poorly funded United Nations to deal with this crisis single handedly. Already, United Nations is failing to provide for the refuges situation in the Middle East due to the Syria Civil War.
Who is RENAMO?
RENAMO was formed in 1975 to serve as anti Communist political establishment mainly sponsored by the former Rhodesian regime's intelligence unit. Its first leader, Andre Matsangaissa was killed by the Mozambican Army on 17 October 1979 and was succeeded by Alfonso Dhlakama who leads the organization up to present day.
The group waged civil war since 1975 to 1992 and was primarily established to basically achieve mainly three objectives. Firstly, the idea was to destabilize and extinguish the Frelimo government in Mozambique that was and is still championing the black majority rule so that they takeover as a government subservient to western economic interests.
