Mozambique: Renamo complains of “disorganisation” in the provinces

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Mozambique: Renamo complains of “disorganisation” in the provinces

12:10 CAT | 04 Feb 2020

Picture: DW

Renamo Secretary General André Magibire says there is a “conflict of competences” between State Secretaries and provincial Governors, announcing a plan to rescue provinces where, according to him, Renamo has won.

André Magibire says disorder prevails in the provinces, with two figures contesting power: the Secretaries of State and the provincial Governors.

“There is an order [from the government] that says that the [Governor’s] palace and the escort is for the Secretary of State … Two weeks later, the palace and the escort is for the Governor. Do you see that? It is disorganisation,” Madjibire commented this Friday (31.01) during a visit to the province of Zambézia.

“Conflict of competences”

Following the decentralisation process, the provincial governors were elected and the figure of the Secretary of State of the province, appointed by the Mozambican president, was created.

Many saw the change as a way for Maputo to continue to control the provinces if the opposition won in some of them. But the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) won in all provinces in the October 15 elections. And now, according to the Renamo secretary general, it is difficult to distinguish the competencies of the two positions.

Mosambik RENAMO Andre Madjibire — Renamo secretary general André Madjibire

Magibire says that Frelimo shot itself in the foot. “They created the figure of the Secretary of State, because they knew we were going to win. It was to over shadow our governors. Now there is a great divide, a conflict of competences”.

Last week, Sala da Paz electoral observation platform drew attention to another case of “confusion” between the offices of the Secretary of State and the provincial Governor in Nampula. Two official opening ceremonies for the school year were held in two different districts, one led by Secretary of State and another by the Governor.

The same happened in Zambézia. “Just a suggestion: instead of Nampula, can’t we just mention Zambezia? Today, the same thing happened. Governor Pio Matos was in Nicoadala and Secretary of State Judite Faria was in the city of Mocuba,” he said

Between the “plan” and the “dilemma”

The secretary general of Renamo has since Thursday (30.01) been in the province where the party continues to claim victory in the October elections.

Magibire says that Renamo has to come up with a plan to rescue all the provinces in which it should have won.

“The real winner of the elections in the province is [Manuel de] Araújo and the Renamo party,” he affirms. “We have to design a strategy here to win the elections in the circumstances in which the country finds itself. […] They [Frelimo] use the police. […] We have to sit down and [figure out] how to deal with it.”

Asked by DW about the plan that Renamo would outline, given that Frelimo’s provincial governors took office two weeks ago, Magibire gave no details.

“For a strategy to be successful, it is necessary that it is not disclosed,” he said.

According to political analyst Ricardo Raboco, Renamo is “in a dilemma”.

“Renamo voters are almost tired of listening to the same old song.[…] ‘We are going to design strategies.’ […] And these strategies are never designed. Any strategy will be a failed strategy, or it will be forced to violate the Peace Agreement, and then the state will act, because there will be no kind of amnesty,” Raboco suggests.

ALSO READ: No conflict between Governor and Secretary of State, says Nyusi

Source: Deutsche Welle