One hundred Renamo combatants surrender their weapons in Beira, Mozambique

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One hundred Renamo combatants surrender their weapons in Beira, Mozambique

9:48 CAT | 14 Jan 2016

Folha de Maputo (File)

A hundred Renamo combatants surrendered to government authorities yesterday in the city of Beira, Sofala province, saying that could no longer endure life in the jungle in the pay of Afonso Dhalakama’s Renamo, reports Notícias.

According to the group’s spokesman, Major Chico Antonio Estevão, the group was trusting the government to improve their lives because other Renamo men who had given themselves up had seen their situation change for the better, with their children in school and their homes improving.

“I have been fighting since 1982. I have nothing. My children do not study. I work without pay,” said Antonio.

Meanwhile, the provincial Director of Combatants, Angelo Naene, explained that once the negotiations with Renamo for the integration of its armed fighters in society failed, the Mozambican government offered a compact with all the members of Renamo who wanted to surrender to the authorities, and that it was in this context that the 100 men surrendered their weapons to the Sofala government.

He said the government had treated them well and that they would benefit from all the rights provided for them by law.

According to Naene, some of the men will be integrated into the Armed Forces of Mozambique (FADM), but before that they will go through a rehabilitation process. Others will benefit directly from the Fund for Peace and National Reconciliation.

Naene also called on more members of Renamo to surrender as the first step in their social reintegration.

Source: Jornal Notícias