Frelimo promises to work to regain Beira – AIM report

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Frelimo promises to work to regain Beira – AIM report

8:04 CAT | 27 Sep 2018

File photo: Notícias

Former Prime Minister Aires Ali, who heads the brigade from Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party sent to assist the municipal election campaign in the central province of Sofala, declared on Tuesday that Frelimo will work hard to regain control of the provincial capital, Beira, and turn it into “ a welcoming space for everyone”.

At the launch of the Frelimo election campaign, at a rally in the neighbourhood of Chingassura, Ali warned that only with hard work and determination could the party hope to win victory in Beira.

Beira has been controlled by the opposition for the past 15 years. Daviz Simango first became mayor of the city in 2003, when he ran as candidate of the former rebel movement Renamo. The then Renamo leader, Afonso Dhlakama, pledged that Renamo would run Simango for a second term of office, in 2008, but broke his word.

In the ensuing turmoil, Simango stood as an independent, and Dhlakama had him expelled from Renamo. Simango easily defeated his Frelimo and Renamo opponents.

Simango formed his own party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), which won a convincing victory in 2013, giving Simango his third term of office. The MDM also won a majority of seats in the Beira Municipal Assembly.

Simango is now running for an unprecedented fourth term as mayor, but faces stiff opposition from Renamo which is standing its General Secretary, Manuel Bissopo, as head of its list in Beira. Frelimo has opted for a little known young woman, Augusta Maita, as its mayoral candidate.

Ali stressed the need for Frelimo supporters to work in an orderly and serious manner in order to convince the Beira public that the time has come for a change and to hand management of the city back to Frelimo. This, he warned, would require hard work and dedication, since nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without sacrifice.

“We have to convince municipal citizens that no party other than Frelimo is able to work for the development of Beira”, he said. “We shall work to convince the voters that our programme is the best, and that our candidates are the best to make Beira a hospitable city”.

The Sofala provincial governor, Alberto Mondlane, said Mozambique needs peace, national unity and development, which only Frelimo could deliver. The way to ensure this was to recover Beira for Frelimo, and make sure the party continues to run the other municipalities in Sofala.

Augusta Maita herself stressed that a victory for Frelimo would mean restoring the dignity of Beira citizens, and their sense of hard work, creativity and solidarity.

“We must look at each other as brothers, living in a municipality of inclusion and prosperity, which reflects the longings of everyone”, she said. “As young people, we have the opportunity to take command of the city of Beira, but we have to think of responsible, realistic and feasible policies”.

The opening day of the election campaign went off peacefully in Beira. Renamo and MDM motorcades crossed each other’s path, but there were no clashes. The police spokesperson in Beira, Daniel Macuacua, told AIM that the police had no need to intervene.

There were rumours of scuffles between MDM and Renamo supporters, but Macuacua insisted that these were not true.

The parties seem to be taking seriously the pleas from the police and from the National Elections Commission (CNE) not to use children in their campaigns. During a Renamo march through the city, Renamo members expelled children who tried to join.

“Go home! Children aren’t allowed her”, one Renamo member was heard to say.

Source: AIM