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Bulawayo Bureau
SADC is closely monitoring the political situation in Mozambique and will not allow the Afonso Dhlakama-led Renamo rebels to destabilise that country, South African Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor has said.In her remarks during the 8th Session of the Zimbabwe/South Africa Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security which ended in Bulawayo yesterday, Cde Pandor, who led the South African delegation, said Sadc member states would intervene if the situation got out of hand.

She said while peace prevailed in Southern Africa, the region remained vigilant in guarding against acts of banditry and terrorism within its member states.

“Our strong message to Renamo is that we will not tolerate any destabilisation in our region. We will not allow anyone to disturb the democracy we fought for,” said Cde Pandor. She added: “Our opinion is that resolutions must be made on the table and not in a civil war.”
Dhlakama is hiding in the bush and has recently been engaged in sporadic attacks on the Mozambican military and civilian population with some casualties reported.

Head of the Zimbabwe delegation and Presidential Affairs Minister Cde Didymus Mutasa concurred with Cde Pandor and said Africa as a whole was facing a myriad of security threats that required strengthening of joint operations on defence matters.