Peace: Political dialogue sessions resume with tribute to Pondeca – Mozambique

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Peace: Political dialogue sessions resume with tribute to Pondeca – Mozambique

11:46 CAT | 19 Oct 2016

O País (File photo) / Mario Raffaelli

The fourth session of internationally mediated political dialogue began yesterday in Maputo with a minute’s silence in a tribute to Jeremias Pondeca. In this round, mediators are prioritising bilateral meetings and separate meetings with the delegations, with full Joint Commission dialogue resuming later.

Acting as spokesman for yesterday’s meeting, European Union mediator Mario Raffaelli said that mediators had met the Renamo delegation and would meet the government delegation today at 3:00 PM.

The meeting yesterday began with a minute’s silence in tribute to Jeremias Pondeca, Council of State member and Renamo member of parliament, and the head of his party delegation in the sub-committee reviewing the legislative package.

Pondeca was killed by gunfire on the morning of 8 October as he was walking in the beach area of Costa do Sol, Maputo, postponing the resumption of the political dialogue originally scheduled for the 10th of October.

Asked about the atmosphere in negotiations after the murder of Pondeca, Raffaelli said that both delegation’s were unanimous in the belief that dialogue was the key to peace in Mozambique, and urged the parties to end the climate of hostility in the country.

“The two delegations and mediators recognise that the best path to peace is dialogue. We therefore urge against the climate of hostilities in the country,” Raffaelli said, adding that he remained optimistic about the direction of the negotiations.

The dialogue aims to create conditions for a meeting between President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama.

Source: Diário de Moçambique