Mozambique: Mondlane summoned by the Public Prosecutor's Office with a detention warning
Mozambique peace talks may conclude by end of year, says PM – AIM report
7:42 CAT | 13 Oct 2017
File photo / President Nyusi and Afonso Dhlakama meet in Gorongosa on August 6 2017.
Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario on Thursday declared that the dialogue between the government and the rebel movement Renamo could reach a conclusion before the end of the year.
Speaking in the northern city of Nampula, at the opening of the Fourth National Religious Conference, Rosario encouraged religious bodies, civil society and the mass media to continue undertaking actions that contribute to reconciliation, mutual respect, concord and tolerance in the Mozambican nation. Observance of these values would allow the strengthening and stabilisation of Mozambican society.
To an audience of around 700 participants, Rosario stressed that political, racial, linguistic, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity should be a factor of unity and not division among Mozambicans.
“It is in this context that religious bodies and civil society organisations are challenged to play an ever more active role in pursuing the national agenda, particularly concerning the attainment of definitive peace and creating conditions for the well-being of the population”, said the Prime Minister.
The objectives of the conference, he continued, fitted into one of the top priorities of the government, which was the preservation of peace.
Peace went beyond silencing the guns, Rosario added. “It means living in harmony, respecting and loving one’s neighbour, even though this does not mean sharing the same opinions”.
“Only with effective peace will we be able to consolidate national unity, guarantee sovereignty, speed up the economic and social development of our country, and thus continually improve living conditions”, he declared.
He guaranteed that, as far as the government is concerned, the peace process under way is irreversible, and that the negotiations between the government and Renamo, in the working groups that the two sides have set up, could have a definitive outcome by the end of the year.
Rosario said he is convinced that “dialogue is the only path for overcoming our differences, and a mechanism through which we can unite our efforts in building a prosperous and inclusive nation”.
The results of the dialogue are already visible, he added, referring to the truce that has been in effect since late December 2016. Since that date there have been no further Renamo ambushes on Mozambican roads, and no more clashes between the Renamo gunmen and the defence and security forces.
Rosario stressed that there was now free circulation of people and goods, and an increase in production, particularly in agriculture.
The representative of Nampula Municipal Council, Maria Moreno, said, referring to last week’s assassination of the city’s mayor, Mahamudo Amurane, “this conference is taking place at a time when we need peace more than ever. We are in mourning. It is our desire that the work of this conference be fruitful”.
Rosario also visited Amurane’s family to extend his condolences in person. “I’ve come here to stand in solidarity with the family”, he said. “We’re very shocked at what happened. Nobody has the right to take the life of another. The way in which our colleague, friend and brother left us was very tragic”.
He promised that the government will work to ensure that those responsible for the murder are brought to trial and punished.
Source: AIM
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