Mozambique: Elias Dhlakama says that DDR is not a Renamo project

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Mozambique: Elias Dhlakama says that DDR is not a Renamo project

12:31 CAT | 20 Jun 2025

File photo: O País

Elias Dhlakama, a former Renamo guerrilla and brother of the late party leader, says that DDR is not a Renamo project. The former guerrilla also stated that the closure of Renamo headquarters makes sense, as it is a consequence of internal problems arising from the mismanagement that led Renamo to third place in the last elections.

“That is when Renamo was buried. Tell me what DDR means, demilitarization, demobilization, reintegration into society. Dhlakama did not abandon this project, I want to draw attention to that. For Dhlakama, it was the reintegration of Renamo men into all defense and security institutions. Those who are unfit or old would be demobilized and reintegrated into society, but that is not what happened,” he explained.

This former Renamo guerrilla then explained that Afonso Dhlakama did not lead the revolution to demand money to improve the living conditions of his soldiers.

“The troops should have had the means, since they worked. They were in the forests, so when they left the forests, they should have received subsidies, that is logical, but the ultimate goal was not to demand that the government pay the troops, the objective was decentralization,” he added.

Dhlakama then blamed the current Renamo leadership for the failure to implement the decentralization process, namely: holding district elections, a project left by Afonso Dhlakama.

“By placing its members on the committee on the President’s initiative to prevent the district elections from being held, Renamo cooperated. When they accuse Frelimo, that is not true. The basis on which Renamo placed its members on the committee makes no sense,” he complained.

Regarding the closure of Renamo headquarters and Ossufo Momade’s office, an act carried out by former guerrillas, Elias Dhlakama agreed with the military.

“The closure of the headquarters is not a problem, but the consequence of a problem. What needs to be resolved in Renamo is not the closure of the headquarters. What needs to be resolved in Renamo is what caused Renamo to come in third place, that is Renamo’s problem. Because Renamo lost the eight municipalities, that is Renamo’s problem

For our interviewee, the solution to the problems is for Ossufo Momade to step down. “If Renamo’s situation demands the resignation of its leader, why not do it. I have heard many times: Because I was elected, but who elected me? The same people who elected me are the ones demanding his resignation. Because you can’t resign for the sake of your party, if you are truly a compatriot. He should show this position”, he stressed.

Source: O País