In “unprecedented meeting,” Frelimo and Renamo commit to regular dialogue

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In “unprecedented meeting,” Frelimo and Renamo commit to regular dialogue

5:31 CAT | 12 Mar 2021

Photo: Sala da Paz

In an unprecedented meeting in Maputo on Thursday morning , the secretaries-general of the Frelimo and Renamo parties stressed the need, for the “growth” of democracy, for more bi-lateral meetings.

At the meeting the secretaries-general of Frelimo and Renamo reinforced their commitment to peace, national reconciliation and preservation of democracy, but not without the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the largest opposition party, restating its historic demand that the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) stop persecuting its members as a condition for these gains to be consolidated.

Majibire.rfr_ — *André Magibire, Secretary-General of Renamo. [Photo: Frelimo Moçambique]*

At the end of the meeting, Renamo secretary general André Magibire stressed that all political actors and civil society “must have space to function”. “We are now appealing that no member of any party persecutes or hits someone, or creates disorder to make the exercise of political activity impossible,” he demanded.

More meetings

Magibire also said that, at the meeting, a commitment to maintain regular dialogue was signed between the two parties, in the name of peace, reconciliation and democracy.

“From now on, we will all live together as brothers,” he promised. “As political parties, we have to work, conditions must be created, it is necessary that the leaders of the parties make their followers aware that all political parties must have space to work in any part of the national territory.”

Frelimo secretary-general Roque Silva acknowledged the need for more meetings between political parties to promote peace, reconciliation and the preservation of democracy.

Roquesilvas — *Roque Silva, Secretary General of Frelimo. [photo: Frelimo Moçambique]*

“I believe it was a good start, and we are open to discussing, with Renamo, the MDM or any other party, anything that can effectively produce tranquillity for Mozambicans. And also, to discuss with any stakeholder in society anything that can help Mozambique grow,” he said.

Frelimo stresses that especially after the [past] electoral disputes, this is the moments for political parties to meet. “We will ensure that Frelimo will continue to work so that democracy continues to grow, aware that all democratic processes are a process, and there is no totally finished democratic model,” he explained.

At the meeting, Renamo’s secretary general André Magibire denied accusations by André Matsangaíssa Júnior about the alleged arbitrariness in the promotion of party guerrillas.

Matsangaíssa Júnior had said that objective criteria for such patenting were lacking, but Magibire clarified: “Decisions on this matter are not made by one person, they are made by a body. I am a member of the Military Affairs Commission, but Magibire alone does not decide. If there has to be a decision, for it to be binding , it must come from the Military Affairs Commission.”

Source: Deutsche Welle