MDM wants a seat at peace talks table – Mozambique

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MDM wants a seat at peace talks table – Mozambique

3:35 CAT | 07 Mar 2017

Voa / Daviz Simango

The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) says that the president is demonstrating an exclusionary attitude in not appointing MDM representatives to join the government and Renamo working groups that are discussing peace, even while Filipe Nyusi talks about inclusion.

The MDM has long been demanding its involvement in the current political dialogue in Mozambique and had hoped that a representative of the party would join the teams discussing military and decentralization issues with the support of foreign ambassadors.

At the recent meeting between the head of state and the chairman of the MDM, Nyusi said he would report everything that was being discussed in the political dialogue to Daviz Simango.

But according to Assembly of the Republic deputy and senior member of the second-largest opposition party in Mozambique, Fernando Bismarque, this diminishes the presidency.

“I think it diminishes the head of state to say he will report everything that is happening in the dialogue to the MDM president. I think that the president should use his constitutional powers and reserve a place for the MDM in the political dialogue,” he said.

Bismarque also said it was necessary to “lay the foundations for a true national reconciliation, because one cannot speak of peace without reconciliation”. Some in Frelimo however consider the MDM position on the current political dialogue to be too pessimistic.

The MDM currently governs in four important municipalities: Beira, Nampula, Quelimane and Guruè.

Source: Voa Portugues