Joaquim Chissano criticizes political dialogue, sees little clarity in discussion goals – Mozambique

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Joaquim Chissano criticizes political dialogue, sees little clarity in discussion goals – Mozambique

1:40 CAT | 22 Nov 2016

O antigo presidente da Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO), Joaquim Chissano, reage durante a reunião do Comité Central do partido em Matola, Moçambique, 13 de abril de 2016. ANTÓNIO SILVA/LUSA

Lusa (File photo) / Former president of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano

Former president Joaquim Chissano yesterday criticised the Joint Commission political dialogue process, saying that it has not been very clear.

Questioned during a lecture at the Institute of International Relations (ISRI) in Maputo, the former statesman was incisive in his analysis.

“What I am finding is lack of clarity. It seems that we do not know what we want,” Chissano said, adding that the ongoing process was a rerun of the Rome talks which culminated in signing of the General Peace Agreement in the Italian capital two years later.

“I have not yet found inflexibility, because they have not even begun to discuss what is on the agenda … It seems that the Rome scenario is happening again,” Chissano said, explaining that “in Rome, when the dialogue began, they should have started by discussing the principles and the Renamo delegation said no, we want to start with essential issues, which cost the process some time”.

Chissano believes there is also a kind of inversion of priorities in the ongoing dialogue.

“Some say that the first point should be the question of the provinces, and the other side considers that this is irrelevant, we can decide on this but if there is still war, neither side can rule,” he explained, highlighting the need for a definition of points of convergence and what is actually intended for the country.

The former statesman also spoke of what he considers to have been the flaws [in the Rome agreement] resulting in the country returning to armed confrontation two decades after what seemed like effective peace was brokered.

“What failed was the lack of sufficient education of a democratic culture. We were just getting started and we needed a lot of education in this area. We took a try at representative multiparty democracy, when what we need is participatory democracy,” he explained.

The Joaquim Chissano lecture was part of this year’s 30th ISRI [High Institute of International Relations] anniversary celebrations.

Source: O País