“Pondeca’s death is a tragedy, but Renamo will not back down” – Afonso Dhlakama exclusive to VOA

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“Pondeca’s death is a tragedy, but Renamo will not back down” – Afonso Dhlakama exclusive to VOA

11:41 CAT | 13 Oct 2016

Voa (File photo) / Afonso Dhlakama

Speaking on Wednesday 12 October, Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama called the murder of Jeremias Pondeca, a member of the Renamo delegation in the Joint Commission peace negotiations, a “tragedy”, but said the dialogue to bring peace to Mozambique would continue.

“It (the murder) was a tragedy for us, it is sad,” Dhlakama said in an exclusive interview with VOA, describing Pondeca as a “strong man” and a “great man” in the party and saying the Renamo family felt his loss keenly.

Dhlakama recalled that Jeremias Pondeca had been with Renamo since it was an underground movement and that, in addition to serving as a Renamo deputy in Parliament, he was a member of the State Council, Maputo delegate and official in the local party organisation.

The opposition leader lamented the frequent “cold-blooded murder” of Renamo members in almost all parts of the country, and the impunity of the executioners, presumably agents of the ruling party and the government.

“We will continue standing, we will continue to fight for democracy, so there is indeed alternation in government,” Dhlakama said, arguing that “we are working for the reform of the regime, for a functioning democracy, and for a state of law and democracy. “

Murders to roll back Renamo

In the interview, Dhlakama said that “we cannot abandon the negotiations and it cannot be the attitude or behaviour of Renamo that, whenever something happens inside the house, it abandons the struggle”.

“If it were so, we would have abandoned the struggle for democracy long ago, as many of our members and cadres have been murdered in Maputo and other provinces, but the fight has always continued,” Dhlakama said, adding that he believes that the current murders of Renamo members “are clearly designed to force Renamo to back down in its struggle for democracy”, which “would be cowardly”.

Dhlakama reaffirmed that the “only way to act is to continue to fight until we reach the goal of restoring peace and democracy in Mozambique. Where the institutions of justice hold accountable those who have committed crimes, we will have succeeded with our democracy.”

“It is necessary that both sides, Frelimo and Renamo, understand that peace is sacred to the people of Mozambique,” Dhlakama said, anticipating the resumption of negotiations on Monday 15th.

Good health and without food problems

Responding to rumours of food supply difficulties on Mount Gorongosa, Dhlakama assured VOA that he has his food situation under control.

“Nothing has happened,” Dhlakama said. [Since the previous interview with VOA on 5 October] “Today the situation is the same. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, I’m fine, and I continue living here in Gorongosa.”

News circulating this week and [falsely] attributed to independent newspaper Savana indicated that the Renamo leader was running out of food after his sources of income, including a tourmaline mine in Barue, were closed down by government forces in August.

The same news reported that helicopters from traders and Renamo allies had stopped flying in Gorongosa and Báruè because the airspace was now be under government control, leaving Afonso Dhlakama without supplies.

This siege, according to observers, was aimed at forcing the Renamo leader to cease military attacks and go to Maputo to talk to President Nyusi.

However, journalist Francisco Carmona, executive editor of Savana, has responded on social media that not only was the news false, but the supposed Savana website was also a fake.

Source: Voa Portugues