Mozambique: Chapo claims near total consensus in dialogue

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Mozambique: Chapo claims near total consensus in dialogue

1:09 CAT | 20 Feb 2025

PR-Chapo-recebe-Partidos-Politicos-com-assento-na-Assembleia-da-Republica-e-Provincial-5-111

File photo: AIM

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has announced that “almost 100% consensus” has been reached in political dialogue between the ruling Frelimo Party and opposition parties.

On Wednesday a further session of the dialogue was held in the presidential offices in Maputo between Chapo, and the leaders of four opposition parties – Lutero Simango, President of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Albino Forquilha, of the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), Ivone Soares, representing Renamo president Ossufo Momade, and Salomao Muchanga, the president of Nova Democracia (New Democracy – ND).

Podemos, Renamo and the MDM all have parliamentary groups, while ND holds 16 seats on the Gurue Municipal Assembly in Zambezia province.

Chapo told reporters that consensus has been reached regarding the terms of reference for signing an agreement, which aims to achieve “economic, political, and social stability in the country.”

Chapo announced that he would extend invitations to leaders or representatives of four small extra-parliamentary parties to join the dialogue before the agreement is signed.

The justification given is that these parties all won seats in provincial assemblies in the elections held last October. Thus Democratic Revolution (RD), formed by dissidents from Renamo, won six seats in the Niassa Assembly; the Humanitarian Party of Mozambique (PAHUMO), won eight seats in Cabo Delgado; the Social Renovation Party (PARESO), took two seats in Inhambane; and the National Reconciliation Party (PARENA), won five seats in Gaza.

But Chapo has continued to exclude from the dialogue Venancio Mondlane, who was the runner-up in last year’s presidential election and has undoubted mass support.

The sole reason given for excluding Mondlane is that he is not the leader of a political party. This objection is likely to fall away soon, since Mondlane has pledged to set up his own political party.

Chapo pledged that once consensus has been signed with what he called “party platforms”, the dialogue will be expanded to include civil society organisations, the media, the private sector, and other social groups.

Source: AIM