Mozambique: Police must reinvent itself to fight terrorism – President Nyusi

Mozambique: Police must reinvent itself to fight terrorism – President Nyusi Mozambican President Filipe on Monday (19) called on the Police force (PRM) to reinvent itself and repel any threats to public order and security, including terrorism attacks currently plaguing the residents of Cabo Delgado province, in the northern regof the country.

 Nyusi, who is also Commander-in-Chief of Forças de Defesa e Segurança (FDS), said that the mission of the police force also includes defence of the homeland, sovereignty and natural resources available in the country, as well as all achievements made with sacrifice and work of Mozambicans.

 He left the challenge during the closing ceremony of the 42nd PRM Basic course, at the Matalana Police Training School.

 In his view, the entry of a growing number of trained police officers Mozambicans into the ranks of the FDS is an important contribution by the Mozambican people to strengthen human capacity, allowing for wider coverage in the surveillance, vigilance and defence of country’s integrity. 

 “Therefore, we recommend the Police Force to reinvents itself so that, together with other defence and security forces on the ground intensify actions to repel any threats to public order and security, as well as build capacity to anticipate and contain any phenomena that could disturb the tranquillity of Mozambicans,” he said.

 The President also mentioned other threats facing the country, particularly money laundering and financing terrorism, and urged all justice stakeholders, including PRM and the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), to develop internal and external coordination mechanisms to combat this crime, which poses a major threat to the country and to the world in general. “This implies specialised training, increased capacity for investigation and analysis and responsibility for action,” he stressed. 

 Addressing the new graduates, Nyusi warned that the Oath of the Flag is not a mere procedure or a mere formality, but an act that carries in itself important significance of symbolism and a high sense of responsibility. “With the oath taken, each one of you has committed to respect and defend our multicoloured national flag and, above all, other values the honour and territorial integrity of the Mozambican nation and safeguard the sovereignty of the State regardless of the sacrifice that you may be required to,” he pointed out.

 He added that the life of a police officer finds its true meaning in the consent of individual sacrifices for the fulfilment of a set of patriotic duties for common good of Mozambicans and all. “Young men, to be a police officer is to accept to always serve national interests, to serve the Homeland and to be ready to exchange one’s life for it, if necessary,” he stressed. 

 Nyusi also reminded the new graduates that when performing their duties they should distance themselves from any criminal practices because they are contrary to their office as well as denounce, combat and repel all criminal actions to eradicate this evil from society, including the police force.