Mozambique: Chapo urges citizens not to take the law into their own hands
Peace in Mozambique: Widespread optimism in Zambézia
7:22 CAT | 20 Mar 2017
File photo /President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama, seen here in a file photo
Filipe Nyusi and Afonso Dhlakama “are men of good judgment”, and members of his party are very happy with their efforts to achieve peace, Zambézia province Renamo delegate Abdala Ossifo told a press conference on Friday.
Ossifo said that “the country is living through a final democratic phase, and based on this is it is about to restore peace”. He also believes that the president, Filipe Nyusi, and the leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, are united in efforts to definitively end the war.
“We went through all the districts of the province,” the Renamo delegate reports, “and were able to meet people in the administrative posts, and a lot of happy and excited people they were. They asked us to thank the Renamo leader and the president for their efforts. Students are able to study, the traditional healers are moving smoothly, and we must make every effort in order not to betray their thoughts.”
Mozambique has been experiencing political-military insecurity since 2013. Armed clashes have caused hundreds of dead and wounded in the centre of the country, an area considered an opposition stronghold. After several rounds of peace negotiations between the government and Renamo – although there is as yet no final agreement – Filipe Nyusi and Afonso Dhlakama announced a truce.
Belief in a definitive peace
Like Renamo members, Frelimo representatives and members of the Zambézia provincial government showed satisfaction and optimism about a definitive cease-fire.
Beato Dias, provincial Youth and Sports director, is optimistic. “I am sure that the president of the republic will talk to the leader of Renamo, and the country will live in peace forever. Peace is definitive; these days things are running normally, everyone is satisfied with that.”
The mayor of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, also believes that Mozambique will soon be at peace. “We Mozambicans cannot see this truce end. Every one us must do our part so that the truce lasts forever. Mozambique has already suffered too much: we had the war of Armando Guebuza.”
“The people cannot be cannon fodder indefinitely,” Araújo concludes. “The people cannot continue to have leaders who ask for money to buy boats that do not fish.”
The Renamo leader recently spoke to the Zambézia journalist by phone and stressed that peace in Mozambique would be achieved when the president acceded to Renamo’s requests. If there is no understanding, the truce will fail.
“It will depend on the president of the republic. This three months’ truce is working very well: there are many products in the markets and transport is circulating normally,” Dhlakama said.
Many Renamo members and public officials abandoned their posts as a result of persecution. But now, according to the party, they have all returned to their jobs, including the five provincial assembly members who had been in hiding.
Source: Deutsche Welle
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