Mozambique: Still no contact between Chapo and Venâncio Mondlane – Carta

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Still no contact between Chapo and Venâncio Mondlane – Carta

2:48 CAT | 20 Jan 2025

Screen grab: CNN Portugal

Contrary to his inaugural speech in which he argued that social harmony “cannot wait” and much less “the construction of consensus on the issues that concern the Mozambican people”, the fact is that the President of the Republic has not yet contacted Venâncio Mondlane, the second most-voted-for candidate and political face of the popular demonstrations that have been taking place in the country since October last year.

In an interview given to Portuguese television station CNN Portugal, Daniel Francisco Chapo said that he has not yet been contacted by the “mutual friend” mentioned by Venâncio Mondlane in an interview with the American newspaper New York Times.

The statement made it clear that Chapo has not yet taken steps to speak with Venâncio Mondlane. It should be noted that Mondlane told the New York Times, quoted by Voice of America, that he was in contact with the head of state “through a mutual friend”, and expressed the hope that the new head of state “will negotiate a resolution to end the political crisis”.

“I have also heard about these contacts, but this mutual friend has not contacted me yet. However, I am absolutely certain that this mutual friend will contact me and from then on we will know what the message is and, based on that message, we will work to pacify the country,” the head of state said in the interview with CNN Portugal, without clarifying what he would do if the “mutual friend” did not contact him.

In his inaugural speech, President Chapo said that social harmony “cannot wait” and even less so “the construction of consensus on the issues that concern the Mozambican people”, so “dialogue has already begun”, adding that he will not rest until “we have a united and cohesive country”. “Social and political stability is our top priority,” he stressed.

Mozambique has been plunged into a political crisis since the general and provincial elections on 9 October, characterized by a wave of popular demonstrations that have already caused the death of more than 300 people (most of them murdered by the police) and the destruction of hundreds of public and private infrastructures.

Source: Carta de Moçambique