Renamo discards meeting with Mozambican government any time soon

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Renamo discards meeting with Mozambican government any time soon

2:32 CAT | 09 May 2016

DW (File photo) / Dhlakama and Nyusi in a meeting in Maputo (February 2015)

There is no prospect of a meeting between Afonso Dhlakama and Filipe Nyusi taking place any time soon, according to Ivone Soares, head of Mozambique’s largest opposition party in parliament – but the Portuguese president can nevertheless exert his influence in favor of peace.

[photo]
Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama meeting President Filipe Nyusi in Maputo in February, 2015

“International mediation can help solve underlying problems that are currently the concern of the armed forces, which are politicized,” the head of the Renamo bench said. But, she added, you would also need to find a solution to the issue of democracy, which she says does not exist in Mozambique, “because there are death squads killing our colleagues at all levels on a daily basis”.

At this point in time, there are no ongoing talks for a possible meeting between Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama and President Filipe Nyusi.

“Conditions for talks at the highest level cannot exist when the basic issues concerning how this dialogue will happen have not yet been agreed,” namely the acceptance by the government of international mediation.

Ivone Soares, head of the Renamo parliamentary bench

Both Fiipe Nyusi and Afonso Dhakama have expressed readiness for dialogue, but according to Ivone Soares the government has not yet responded to the Renamo demands for mediation by the European Union, the South African President Jacob Zuma or the Catholic church.

Head of the government benches Margarida Talapa in reply reiterated President Nyusi’s appeal for dialogue without preconditions. “What we want is that he [Dhlakama] sits down with the president and discusses national problems,” she said, arguing that first they need to discuss the issue among Mozambicans. ‘We are the owners of the country.”

Talapa accused Renamo of participating in parliamentary sessions during the day and carrying out attacks at night, promoting violence and creating instability in order to derail governance.

During his visit to Parliament, the Portuguese head of state stressed that democracy is built every day, and that it is no easy task. “The worst of democracies is always better than the best of dictatorships. Every day, we should strive to not be tempted to return to violence, war, division, dictatorship,” he added.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he believed that, in spite of all the upheavals, there is a clear desire in Mozambique to affirm peace, ensure state unity, respect political pluralism, respect human rights, ensure financial rigour and look after social goals.

The visit of the Portuguese president to Mozambique was dominated by calls for peace in the country

At a dinner in his honour on Wednesday last week, President Rebelo de Sousa condemned the use of violence and advocated plurality of opinions within the respect for the constitution and the laws in force.

“Any democratic state expects partisan political forces to express themselves freely, but not by force of arms.”

Parliamentary Speaker Verónica Macamo said after meeting the President of Portugal that her party is striving for effective peace in the country. “We are sure that, regarding peace, dialogue will continue to be the key vehicle, because it doesn’t makes sense that there are deaths, suffering and destruction of property,” she said.

In the final leg of his state visit to Mozambique, the Portuguese president on Friday held meetings with various political personalities and received the keys to the city of Maputo, in the same City Council meeting hall in which they were handed to his father, Baltazar Rebelo de Sousa, governor of Mozambique during the colonial period, almost half a century ago.

What unites Portugal and Mozambique “surpasses regimes,” the head of state said. Many do not understand the “fraternal friendship” between Portugal and Mozambique, but it is “the picture of what exists between the two countries and beyond regimes, state types and the most diverse political, economic and social situations,” Rebelo de Sousa said.

Source: Deutsche Welle