It also allows for the minimum age of conscription to be lowered in time of war. In apparent rejection of enforced military service, last year despite legal penalties, only 35,000 people signed up in a government registration drive out of an expected 750,000. An estimated 10,000 children were in Renamo ranks alone. A government official told IRIN that only 1,000 people would be called up this year. He, however, also acknowledged popular rejection of military service, which was why the government reintroduced conscription, he said.
People associate the army with war.
Possible delay for October polls Delays have hit the timetable of Mozambique's general elections planned for October and a caretaker government could be running the country until the polls are held possibly next year, political analysts said this week. Alfredo Gamito, the minister of government administration responsible for the elections, accused parliament of being behind the delays. He told IRIN that as a result the government was now weighing the options of shortening the timetable to allow the elections to take place on schedule in October, or their postponement to December, or even April next year. If there is a two or three month delay there won't be very big consequences, but if it's more than six months then it's a problem. The report said production prospects were also adversely affected by dry spells in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland in February.