Dhlakama would like to have dinner with Marcelo but is prevented from attending

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Dhlakama would like to have dinner with Marcelo but is prevented from attending

12:40 CAT | 06 May 2016

Lusa (File photo) / Afonso Dhlakama photographed in the last meeting he held with journalists in Santungira, Gorongosa (February 2016).

Mozambique National Resistance leader Afonso Dhlakama would like to have dinner and exchange views with the Portuguese President Marcelo de Sousa, but is unable to, the head of Renamo’s parliamentary bench has told Lusa.

“For very well known reasons he is in Gorongosa, prevented from being here [in Maputo] and greet President de Sousa. This is the source of some embarrassment,” said Ivone Soares, adding that Renamo would like a meeting “not only for the dinner itself but to exchange views”.

The parliamentary leader and niece of the Renamo president was referring to the conflict between the armed wing of her party and government forces in the central region, and presumably keeping Dhlakama in the Gorongosa region since the end of last year.

“President Dhlakama has always had an affectionate relationship with the Portuguese and has always valued this friendship and the strengthening of bilateral relations,” Soares noted, speaking after a visit to the Mozambican parliament by President Rebelo de Sousa.

Afonso Dhlakama is on the guest list for the dinner President Rebelo de Sousa is hosting in Maputo on Friday, and Portuguese TV channel SIC revealed first hand that his name was put forward by Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi.

Diplomatic sources confirmed the Renamo leader’s inclusion on the 50-name list to Lusa, along with Daviz Simango, the leader of Mozambique’s third-largest opposition party, Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM).

The same sources explain that it is up to Portugal to indicate the Portuguese guests for the Friday dinner, the culmination of President de Sousa’s state visit to Mozambique, and for Mozambique to indicate the Mozambican guests similarly, but point out that protocol would always have dictated the inclusion of Dhlakama’s name on the list in his capacity as leader of the largest opposition party in parliament.

President Rebelo de Sousa was received by the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique (Speaker) on Thursday in a meeting attended by representatives of Frelimo, Renamo and the MDM.

Addressing Verónica Macamo after the meeting, Marcelo applauded their presence, saying: “Your Excellency has chosen to be accompanied by representatives of Renamo, Frelimo and MDM, a true sign of what we in Portugal also know, which is that in our national assemblies we have representatives of parties representing the popular will.”

“Democracy is built every day. It’s not an easy construction, but is a necessary construction because the worst of democracies is always better than the best of dictatorships. And every day we must fight not to be tempted to return to violence, war, division and dictatorship,” de Sousa added.

Source: Lusa