The former president of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Emílio Guebuza, told the Judicial Court of Maputo City today that it made no sense to submit for the approval of the Assembly of the Republic (AR) the plan for the acquisition of resources [arms] for the protection of the Special Economic Zone.

Guebuza, the last declarant of the trial, was answering a question posed by the Mozambican Bar Association (OAM), concerning the fact that the Constitution of the Republic was violated by contracting the debts without the approval of the AR.

According to the declarant, at the time of the facts President of the Republic, with the greatest guarantee of respect for the Constitution of the Republic, the Joint Command sought to deal with the matter without going through the scrutiny of the AR because, at the time, Renamo was terrorizing the central part of the country while acting diplomatically in the Assembly.

"It is true that there was a debt to acquire equipment to fight those who were attacking Mozambique at that time, at various points. It turned out that some of the people who were being fought, that is, Renamo, had deputies in Parliament," so "taking an issue like that to Parliament for Renamo was opening up the opportunity for them to have all the information and, therefore, it would have jeopardised the realisation, the execution of this plan. It was like doing nothing.

Comparing the situation in central Mozambique with the armed attacks by Renamo, Guebuza said that taking the issue to the Assembly of the Republic "would be like today if the terrorists in Cabo Delgado were in the Assembly of the Republic, and we, knowing that, [would] also ask the terrorists for permission to have weapons. For me it didn't make sense at that time and it still doesn't make sense today if that were the case. War is war and we are still facing war situations today, like the one in Cabo Delgado. I would even say, it would be irresponsible," declared Guebuza.

According to OAM, under the Constitution of the Republic, it is the exclusive competence of the AR to authorize the Government to contract or grant loans.

Asked whether he took responsibility for the failure to implement the plan, Guebuza replied simply that the project was something necessary for Mozambique.

"The project was a necessary thing and I still think it is necessary. The execution and implementation of the project is not my responsibility. The project was prepared until 2015, and from there to here I don't know what is going on, and therefore it is not my responsibility," the declarant said.