Dhlakama discards integration of Renamo in Mozambique government

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Dhlakama discards integration of Renamo in Mozambique government

5:29 CAT | 08 Aug 2016

File photo / Afonso Dhlakama

The Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama ruled out the possibility of members of the largest opposition party becoming part of the Mozambican government and insisted that the party will not give up the claim to take power in the provinces where it claims election victory.

“We do not even want to enter the Frelimo government. Do not think that we will accept what was done in Kenya or in Zimbabwe with Tsvangirai. We do not want a national unity government, ” said Dhlakama in an interview published last Wednesday by Canal de Moçambique.

The leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) reiterated that he advocates a revision of the Constitution, adding that an agreement reached with the Government should be submitted to parliament for his party to begin ruling in the six central and northern provinces of the country.

“We will govern our provinces with our policies. We do not want to divide the country, we just want to transfer the powers of Frelimo governors to Renamo, ” Dhlakama said, noting that, after five years there will be new elections.

Renamo does not accept the results of the general elections in 2014, alleging fraud, and demands to rule in the provinces of Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambezia, the country’s centre, and Niassa and Nampula, in the north, where it claims victory in the poll.

When Renamo disputed elections in late 2014, Dhlakama proposed the establishment of a caretaker government with Frelimo, but the suggestion was rejected by the ruling party and then ended up abandoned by the opposition party.

In recent months, the central region of Mozambique has been hit by clashes between the armed wing of Renamo and the Defence and Security Forces, as well as mutual allegations of abductions and assassinations of political leaders of both parties.

In an interview with Canal de Moçambique, Dhlakama admitted the authorship of Renamo attacks in the previous weekend to the village headquarters of Mopeia, Zambezia province, and the opening of a new front in Niassa province.

“A police station in Maúa was attacked in Niassa, as we opened a front there last week,” said the opposition leader, alluding to a province where episodes of political violence were rare.

At the time of the interview, peace talks had been suspended after the departure of international mediators, but Dhlakama said he guaranteed that they would return for the resumption of negotiations on August 8.

“The mediators, when they came, they were with that expectation that in three days things would be resolved. I think that they went back to prepare, “he said, also commenting on the logistical issues raised by the head of the mediators, Mario Raffaelli, at the time he announced the suspension.

For the leader of the opposition, the supposed lack of logistic conditions, including payment of expenses reveals “the government’s bad faith”, and since the departure of the mediators, he said, there had been no contact between the delegations, despite of a pending issue.

This[pending] issue was, according to Dhlakama, related to the creation of security conditions for a personal meeting with the mediators in the mountains of Gorongosa, centre of the country, where he is presumably staying since the end of last year.

“There was an idea that was explored, which is the ability to give respite at the level of Gorongosa, where I live, in order to allow the movement of the mediators,” he said.

A general cease-fire depends, however, on the “brothers on the other side showing interest and good faith” he said, refusing a truce with an opponent that points a cannon at him.

“It is what they have done here in Gorongosa. When they attack us, they think they are pushing us and Dhlakama will raise his hands. If the enemy attacks us, we must respond to disperse it, “said the leader of Renamo, who also addressed his image among party supporters.

“Look, my brother Matias [journalist], do not play with these things. The image of Dhlakama is brilliant, his reputation is brilliant. I do not say that I am God, but I am brilliant, ” he said.

Source: MMO