Botswana records first combat death
Botswana this week Tuesday recorded its first combat death since the deployment of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in the Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique last year July. The BDF joined other SADC forces to combat terrorism and acts of violent extremism.
The previous two deaths of BDF members were not combat related. The first BDF member was killed in a vehicle accident in July 2021 while the second died in an accidental fire discharge at Pemba, Mozambique.
Botswana is part of several SADC states which deployed troops to quell the terrorist insurgency in Mozambique, which started in July last year.
In a media release Wednesday, the BDF revealed that Lance Corporal Zikamee Kamal was killed by Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jamaah (ASWJ) terrorists in the area of Nkonga village in Nangade district, Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique on Tuesday alongside Sergeant Musa Mpondo from Tanzania.
Another soldier from Tanzania is reported to have sustained minor injuries and he is said to be recovering at the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) Level II hospital in Pemba. BDF spokesperson Colonel Magosi Moshagane said Kamal was deployed as part of the BDF 3rd contingent under SAMIM forces in the Cabo Delgado region for a peace support operation.
He stated that SAMIM operations are aimed at neutralising terrorist threat and restoring security in order to create a secure environment to strengthen and maintain peace and security in support of the government of Mozambique. He further reaffirmed BDF’s commitment and support to peace and security in the SADC region.
“Despite incidents, our soldiers remain resolute to bring peace and security to the people of Mozambique. The BDF conveys its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and citizens,” Moshagane said.
The death of a BDF member comes a few days after the Minister for Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi announced during a media brief that the SAMIM mission has gained significant success including dislodging terrorists from their strongholds and denying them the ability to deploy at will. Mmusi had also stated that the attrition of
ASWJ has drastically reduced the terrorist’s command and control function which has then affected their ability to plan and execute their heinous operations.
Moreover, Mmusi revealed that since the commencement of the mission, the BDF has deployed three contingents with relief in place for those contingents occurring every six months. He disclosed that for SAMIM I, 288 personnel deployed, 358 for SAMIM II and 361 personnel in SAMIM III.
“BDF SAMIM I and II operated under scenario 6 which had rapid deployment capability, whereas SAMIM III contingent is operating under scenario 5 which is a multi-dimensional force with a mandate involving the military, police, correctional services and the civilian component,” he said. He further revealed that the SAMIM mandate has been extended by SADC heads of state from July 2022 to July 2023.
“Personnel contributing countries involved in combating ASWJ are Angola, Botswana, Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Rwanda which has a bi-national agreement with Mozambique,” Mmusi said.
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