18 May 2022

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) troops serving in the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has been assured of Batswana’s support for their deployment.

Addressing the troops based in Mueda and Pemba in Mozambique’s Carbo Delgado province on Tuesday, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said the support was influenced by the knowledge that it was Botswana’s contribution to peace and stability in Africa. 

 He commended the current contingent of 359 soldiers, Botswana’s second since deployment of SAMIM last year,  for protecting human lives from acts of terrorism and violent extremism.

The first contingency, comprising 301 soldiers has since returned home.

Mr Tsogwane told the soldiers that the people of Mozambique and SADC region would forever be grateful to them for their sacrifices.

He noted that fighting terrorism and violent extremists in Mozambique could not be an easy task as BDF was not familiar with the terrain whereas the terrorists were.

However, he assured them that ‘if you keep on engaging and pursuing them, they will know and realise that they have no place to hide’. 

"God is on our side because you are fighting for a good cause. There is no way God will be on the side of the terrorists who are bringing pain to the community,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane encouraged the soldiers to be dedicated and disciplined in order to persevere adding that the SAMIM deployment would come in handy for future assignments. 

Vice President Tsogwane also stressed the importance retaining  the areas gained from terrorists.

In an interview, SAMIM deputy commander, Brigadier Simon Barwabatsile said the mission had brought sanity to most parts of the Cabo Delgado region.

He said when they arrived, most places were deserted but life was coming back to normal.

In July this year, the Botswana contingency would be marking a year in Mozambique and according to Brigadier Barwabatsile, SAMIM was transcending into a peacekeeping mission. ends