Ministry of Defence launches compulsory military service programme tomorrow

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Ministry of Defence launches compulsory military service programme tomorrow

2:11 CAT | 05 Jan 2016

Jornal Notícias

The Minister of National Defence, Atanásio Salvador M’tumuke, will tomorrow preside over the official launch in Dondo district of Sofala of the national census campaign for the 2016 Mandatory Military Service process has been underway since Saturday and will last until the 28th of February.

The registration campaign covers all young people who turn 18 this year, who are under 35 and still have not done their service.

Last Wednesday the National Director of Human Resources of the Ministry of National Defence, Edgar Cossa, told a press conference in Maputo that by law a citizen who does not submit to conscription is considered in default and is subject to sanctions.

The Ministry of Defence will this year register 170,000 young people of both sexes. At the press conference, Cossa explained that conscription does not mean automatic integration into the ranks of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS).

“Census does not mean integration in the ranks. We are not claiming that individuals will be integrated. Citizens are joining the census as a way of fulfilling their patriotic duty to ensure the safety of the country. To integrate the ranks of the FDS these people will face tests and will undergo selection,” he explained.

According to the projections of the last population census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 2007, about 449,000 young people should reach the age of 18 in 2016, so the 170 000 projected by the Ministry of Defense represents only 31 percent of those eligible.

To Cossa, the participation of families in mobilizing their members for military service is essential to success. “We call on all young people to register. This call is extended to families, who have an important mobilizing role. Mozambicans in the diaspora are also requested to visit diplomatic missions to register,” he said.

Across Mozambique, there are 800 permanent posts and 200 mobile stations for registering, leading the Ministry of National Defence to proclaim that there is no reason why young people should fail to do their patriotic duty.

Registration will go ahead until February 28 at the headquarters of all district governments and municipal councils, administrative offices and educational institutions, and diplomatic and consular missions abroad, under Law No. 32/2009, of 25 November, the Military Service Law and its respective regulation.

Also at the press conference, Cossa noted that the Government conducts its national defence agenda through the Armed Forces of Mozambique Defense (FADM).

“On the other hand,” he added, “in the light of the Constitution and within the Economic and Social Plan 2015 recently conducted in Montepuez, Cabo Delgado, the opening of the third course of Mozambique Civic Service providers to replace or complement the Military Service for all citizens not subject to military duties. So for young people to take advantage of these opportunities the starting point is conscription”, he said.

Source: Jornal Notícias