Speaking to reporters, Dai said that the first phase of the transfer will be complete by the end of June, and all the weaponry will have been moved away from residential areas by the end of December.
The move comes too late for the 103 people who lost their lives when the military arsenal in the outer Maputo suburb of Malhazine blew up on 22 March, flinging shells, grenades, rockets and other munitions across the city.
In this disaster a further 515 people were injured, and 3,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
Dai said that sites have been located, well away from the cities, where new arsenals will be built. He added that the government has already awarded contracts to the companies that will build the arsenals.
He did not name these companies, but said they were already on the ground preparing construction work.
Dai added that the associated work of collecting and destroying obsolete weaponry is continuing, and is now at "an advanced stage".
Dai was speaking to the press after an audience granted by Prime Minister Luisa Diogo to a visiting Chinese military delegation.
SOURCE: AIM
