MDM claims it attempted reconciliation with Nampula mayor

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MDM claims it attempted reconciliation with Nampula mayor

8:58 CAT | 23 Jun 2017

File photo / Mahamudo Amurane

The opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) says it has attempted to ensure reconciliation with the Mayor of the northern city of Nampula, Mahamudo Amurrane, but to no avail.

Amurane was elected mayor on the MDM ticket in the municipal elections of 2013. But this year a rift between the mayor and his party has become ever wider. Amurane has accused the MDM leadership of heading a campaign of defamation against him, and has described MDM president and Mayor of Beira, Daviz Simango, as “a dictator”. Amurane has made it clear that in the next local elections, scheduled for 2018, he intends to stand for a second term, with or without MDM support.

Interviewed in Friday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”, the MDM spokesperson, Sande Carmona, said the party had done all in its power to understand the anger and the complaints of Amurane. But he had dismissed all attempts at reconciliation, including those that came from Simango himself.

Amurane remains a member of the MDM and of its Political Commission, and Carmona said that a decision on his membership will be taken at the MDM Congress, due to be held in Nampula in December.

“There’s no decision as such”, sad Carmona. “What I can tell you is that work is under way with colleague Amurane. Unfortunately, colleague Amurane does not want to meet with the teams that have gone to Nampula to talk to him”.

“Given this situation, the jurisdictional commission has remitted the matter to the top bodies of the Party”, he continued. “The case of Amurane will be decided at the Congress. The Congress is a sovereign body”.

Carmona regretted that Amurane had taken his complaints about the MDM to the press, rather than discussing them inside the party.

Amurane has not entirely shut the door on reconciliation with the MDM – but he has made it conditional on a public apology from Simango, which is clearly not going to happen.

The mayor has remained vague as to whether he plans to run as an independent in 2018, whether he will attempt to set up a new party of his own, or whether he will try to forge an alliance with one of the major parties – either the ruling Frelimo Party or the rebel movement Renamo.

Source: AIM