The Minister of National Defense, Cristovão Chume, on Wednesday (19) once again demanded discipline among the military of the Armed Forces of Defense of Mozambique (FADM), a demand made at a time when there seems to be an increasing lack of upright behavior and true following of military commands and rules.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremonies for the national flag of the 1st Integrated Training Course for Marines, the Imposition of the Beret on the 11th Training Course for Officers and the closing of the 2nd Training Course in naval subjects for the Military Police, at the Mozambican Marine School in the KaT district.Speaking at the swearing-in ceremonies for the 11th Officers' Training Course and the closing of the 2nd Training Course in naval subjects for the Military Police, at the Mozambican Navy's Marine School, in the KaTembe municipal district, the president said that military discipline should be understood as a compass that should guide one's mission in all operational or other professional actions, just as this instrument is used by sailors until they reach a safe port.

"The soldier is given military discipline to implement the behavior demanded of all those who have sworn to fulfill their military service with loyalty. On the other hand, to strictly respect the military hierarchy that you also learned during your course," said Chume, quoted by the newspaper SAVANA.

The most recent examples of the lack of discipline within the Mozambican Armed Defense Forces come from the Northern Operational Theater, where military personnel are often associated with selling information to terrorists. There are also constant accusations that the military is blackmailing and promoting illegal collections from citizens in conflict zones, under threat of putting them on the list of suspected collaborators with terrorism. The consumption of alcohol to the point of drunkenness by military personnel in the field has also been a major concern for the leaders of the Ministry of Defense.

On the subject of the Northern Operational Theater and counter-terrorism actions, Cristovão Chume said that one of the challenges facing "the women and men" who finished their military courses yesterday had to do with the need for ever greater determination and demonstrating the necessary bravery in the fight against the insurgency in Cabo Delgado.

"Violent extremism and terrorism must always be at the top of the list of evils to be eradicated from our homeland, because they jeopardize our existence as a single and indivisible state," said Chume, drawing attention to the need for greater awareness and determination in the fight against terrorism, which has been raging in Cabo Delgado province for just over six years.

(Photo DR)