Mozambique: Young protesters turned away from Renamo HQ in Maputo – AIM

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Mozambique: Young protesters turned away from Renamo HQ in Maputo – AIM

5:22 CAT | 06 Jan 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Sala da Paz]

A group of ten youths, supporters of Venancio Mondlane, the Renamo candidate for mayor of Maputo in the recent municipal elections, gathered at the Renamo headquarters on Saturday morning, but were thrown out by Renamo security guards.

According to a report carried by the German agency “DW Africa”, the guards declared that the youths were not members of Renamo. “The party has specific bodies to discuss these matters, and you want to conspire against Renamo”, one of them claimed.

This guard also prevented reporters from photographing the scene.

The youths were reacting to the announcement by the Renamo national spokesperson, Jose Manteigas, on Wednesday that the party’s current leader, Ossufo Momade, will be its candidate in the presidential election scheduled for October.

The youths said they had participated in the street demonstrations led by Venancio Mondlane against the fraudulent municipal election results. The election management bodies claimed that the ruling Frelimo Party had won the election in Maputo, but parallel vote counts by Renamo, and by credible civil society bodies, showed that in reality Renamo had won.

One of Saturday’s young protestors, Vasco Vitor, told reporters he opposed the indication of Momade as the presidential candidate, and believed the decision should be taken by a Rensmo Congress.

“We believe they are preparing us psychologically so that we can accept Ossufo Momade as the candidate”, he said. “But this country needs a strong candidate so that there can be changes. With a monotonous candidate, that will not be possible, and we will remain enslaved. So let’s wait for the Congress”.

A woman named only as Esmeralda said she had taken part in the Renamo marches against the election results during 45 days. “At no time did we see the party president Ossufo Momade on the marches”, she said. “Later they come and tell us he is the candidate”.

Another of the protesters, Amina Arau said she had mobilized people to join the Renamo marches, and objected to being turned away from the Renamo headquarters.

“We need a leader who works with the people”, she said, “and who embrace us, not people who just sit in armchairs”.

Some Renamo heavyweights, such as Timosse Maquinze, who claims he used to be leader of the party’s armed wing, are also protesting. They accuse Momade of inertia in the face of the irregularities that marked the municipal elections, and of neglecting Renamo’s former guerrillas.

Source: AIM