Mozambique: "The Army is Not Politicised" - Ngonhamo
Maputo — The former deputy chief of staff of the Mozambican armed forces (FADM), Lt-Gen Mateus Ngonhamo, has strongly denied claims that the army has been politicized and now operates on behalf of the ruling Frelimo Party.
Ngonhamo was head of military intelligence of the apartheid backed rebel movement Renamo during the war of destabilisation, and was regarded as very close to Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama. When volunteers from both the government army (the FAM/FPLM) and Renamo were merged to form the FADM in 1994, Ngonhamo became deputy chief of staff, a post he held until 2008.
Last week, another former Renamo general, Herminio Morais, complained bitterly that Frelimo had taken over the FADM, marginalizing officers who had originally come from the ranks of Renamo. But, interviewed in Wednesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais", Ngonhamo categorically denied such claims.
"I've already heard this kind of comment, but I don't agree", said Ngonhamo. "What's happening in the armed forces is that the government approved a new organizational model for the FADM, in line with the new reality of our country. The old model had an excess of functions inside the armed forces. Many departments were abolished, and logically the officers who used to work there no longer had those tasks. Those who are in the departments untouched by the new model continue to work there".
Politicisation of the FADM, he said, "only exists inside the heads of some people who are not informed about the current reality inside the FADM. Those whose departments were abolished might not like it, but the intention of the new model was not to politicise the armed forces".
The new model, he continued, "was discussed inside the FADM, and was adopted by consensus among FADM officers. It was not only officers who came from Renamo who lost their positions. Several of those who came from the FPLM were also in the same situation".
As for the claim made by Morais that the post of deputy chief of staff is purely ornamental, Ngonhamo said that he had worked loyally under the then chief of staff, Gen Lagos Lidimo, but when Lidimo was absent "I automatically took command of the general staff, where I took decisions, signed documents and issued dispatches"
Ngonhamo said he had enjoyed a good relationship with Lidimo, and had never disobeyed him. As for leaving the post of deputy chief of staff, Ngonhamo explained that neither he nor Lidimo were at all surprised when this happened.
"Our terms of office had long expired", he said. "The President of the Republic called us and told us of his decision. We were already prepared to leave".
As for the sporadic threats by Dhlakama that Renamo might go back to war, Ngonhamo did not believe them. "I don't think it's possible that Afonso Dhlakama will tell his wife Rosalia to pack her bags for Maringue (Renamo's headquarters in the closing years of the war). Currently there is no room for armed conflict".
"Peace has come to stay", stressed Ngonhamo. "The Mozambican people understand that only with peace can they achieve the desired objective of the development of the country".
Ngonhamo said that, although he had come from the Renamo army, he is not a member of the political party Renamo, does not hold a membership card, and has no intention of going into politics.
Maputo — The former deputy chief of staff of the Mozambican armed forces (FADM), Lt-Gen Mateus Ngonhamo, has strongly denied claims that the army has been politicized and now operates on behalf of the ruling Frelimo Party.
Ngonhamo was head of military intelligence of the apartheid backed rebel movement Renamo during the war of destabilisation, and was regarded as very close to Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama. When volunteers from both the government army (the FAM/FPLM) and Renamo were merged to form the FADM in 1994, Ngonhamo became deputy chief of staff, a post he held until 2008.
Last week, another former Renamo general, Herminio Morais, complained bitterly that Frelimo had taken over the FADM, marginalizing officers who had originally come from the ranks of Renamo. But, interviewed in Wednesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais", Ngonhamo categorically denied such claims.
"I've already heard this kind of comment, but I don't agree", said Ngonhamo. "What's happening in the armed forces is that the government approved a new organizational model for the FADM, in line with the new reality of our country. The old model had an excess of functions inside the armed forces. Many departments were abolished, and logically the officers who used to work there no longer had those tasks. Those who are in the departments untouched by the new model continue to work there".
Politicisation of the FADM, he said, "only exists inside the heads of some people who are not informed about the current reality inside the FADM. Those whose departments were abolished might not like it, but the intention of the new model was not to politicise the armed forces".
The new model, he continued, "was discussed inside the FADM, and was adopted by consensus among FADM officers. It was not only officers who came from Renamo who lost their positions. Several of those who came from the FPLM were also in the same situation".
As for the claim made by Morais that the post of deputy chief of staff is purely ornamental, Ngonhamo said that he had worked loyally under the then chief of staff, Gen Lagos Lidimo, but when Lidimo was absent "I automatically took command of the general staff, where I took decisions, signed documents and issued dispatches"
Ngonhamo said he had enjoyed a good relationship with Lidimo, and had never disobeyed him. As for leaving the post of deputy chief of staff, Ngonhamo explained that neither he nor Lidimo were at all surprised when this happened.
"Our terms of office had long expired", he said. "The President of the Republic called us and told us of his decision. We were already prepared to leave".
As for the sporadic threats by Dhlakama that Renamo might go back to war, Ngonhamo did not believe them. "I don't think it's possible that Afonso Dhlakama will tell his wife Rosalia to pack her bags for Maringue (Renamo's headquarters in the closing years of the war). Currently there is no room for armed conflict".
"Peace has come to stay", stressed Ngonhamo. "The Mozambican people understand that only with peace can they achieve the desired objective of the development of the country".
Ngonhamo said that, although he had come from the Renamo army, he is not a member of the political party Renamo, does not hold a membership card, and has no intention of going into politics.
As for the future of Renamo, if the Party wanted to achieve power, "it should change the way it works", he added.
Fonte: Allafrica, 2009-01-21
Fonte: Allafrica, 2009-01-21
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