Mozambique: Renamo reopens its headquarters in the center of the country

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Mozambique: Renamo reopens its headquarters in the center of the country

12:19 CAT | 24 Feb 2017

The Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) in Manica, central Mozambique, is resuming normal political activities and has reopened its headquarters, most of which was destroyed in the political-military conflict, a party source told Lusa on Thursday.

The resumption of normal political activities results from the understanding reached between its leader, Afonso Dhlakama, and President Filipe Nyusi, which resulted in the 60-day truce in force until March 4, Renamo provincial political delegate in Manica Sofrimento Matequenha says.

“The political activities of the Renamo party have resumed here in the province of Manica after meetings with the governor and the provincial police commander,” Matequenha said. The first headquarter reopenings began earlier this month.

Since 6 February, offices have been reopened and party flags hoisted at Gondola, Manica, Chimoio, Macate, Vanduzi and Báruè (central) and Mossurize (southern) districts, and in Guro, Macossa and Tambara in the north, districts hit by the political-military crisis, reopening is scheduled for the next two days.

“In Gondola the headquarters is located in the woods, and we raised the flag. I went to Mossurize, although the headquarters was destroyed, and we raised the flag there too. In Báruè, the delegate has still not come out of hiding, but we raised the flag there, as we did in all the places we went through,” Matequenha said. Meetings had been attended by hundreds of members, he added.

Matequenha acknowledged that fear persists among party cadres, although an agreement had been reached with government and police authorities to end the persecution of party members.

“Fear still persists among leaders, because of the problems which occurred (kidnappings and executions), but it is as bad any more, because of the agreement with the police,” Matequenha said, saying that agreement had been reached that the police would intervene urgently “where ever there are problems involving Renamo members”.

According to the official, the population has already begun to leave the woods.
“Sometimes I meet 400 or 200 people. Even in Manica, the delegate herself only left her hiding place on the day of the meeting,” he said.

Mozambique is currently enjoying the last part of a 60-day truce decreed by Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama in January to give room for peace talks between the government and his party. The truce ends on 4 March.

Although concrete advances have not yet been announced, working groups to prepare for the new phase of the dialogue on decentralization and military matters were announced this month.

Central and northern Mozambique have been the location of military violence for more than a year following Renamo’s refusal to accept the results of the 2014 general election and its demand to govern in the six provinces where it claims victory in the ballot.

Source: Lusa