Mozambique Elections: Renamo leader denounces attack on home of party official

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Mozambique Elections: Renamo leader denounces attack on home of party official

5:09 CAT | 20 Aug 2024

Image: Ossufo Momade /Facebook

The leader of Mozambique’s main opposition Renamo party, who is also its presidential candidate in the October general elections, has denounced an alleged episode of political intolerance in the form of the destruction of the home of a leading member, and threatened to “use force” to defend it.

“Don’t force us to use force to respond,” Momade warned, after the residence of Bernardo Mário, Renamo political delegate in Tsangano district, Tete province, “was robbed and burned down by as yet unidentified individuals”.

“But we have no doubt that they belong to some political opponent who we suspect is the party in power. In fact, this is the second time that this has happened to the same delegate, whenever there is a national-level delegation going to work in the localidade de Chinvalo,” Momade alleged in a message on his Facebook account.

“We wish to express our repudiation and displeasure by appealing to those responsible to find and hold the offenders accountable. We cannot continue to tolerate and normalize these repugnant and condemnable actions in every sense of the word. When we arrived in the district of Angonia, we received reports of an attempted assassination of a member of our staff in the localidade de Mpandula,” he added.

For Ossufo Momade, one of the four candidates for the Presidency of the Republic in the general elections of October 9, these actions “constitute a major violation of democratic principles.”

“The Constitution of the Republic grants freedom of choice and affiliation to any political ideology; we are exercising our constitutional rights. Stop the persecution; this country belongs to Mozambicans and never to one group of people,” Momade stated.

“To our delegate, we give our encouragement and solidarity. We will support you in whatever way we can to rebuild your home,” he concluded.

Mozambique will hold general elections on October 9, including presidential, legislative and provincial elections. The current president, Filipe Nyusi, will not run in the election, having already reached the constitutional two-term limit.

In addition to Ossufo Momade, with the support of Renamo, Daniel Chapo, supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power), Lutero Simango, supported by the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the third parliamentary force, and Venâncio Mondlane, are also running for office.

Source: Lusa