Renamo in congress as “governance alternative” in Mozambique

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Renamo in congress as “governance alternative” in Mozambique

2:25 CAT | 16 Jan 2019

in file CoM

The interim coordinator of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Ossufo Momade, has said that the party should continue to be a governance alternative in Mozambique.

“Our mission and our challenge is to continue to be a governance alternative,” Momade said at the opening of the 6th Renamo Congress in Gorongosa, Sofala, central Mozambique.

Momade, who has been leading the party since the May 2018 death of Afonso Dhlakama, stressed the need to strengthen internal cohesion, and for Renamo to “be strong” in its inclusive governance project.

Momade defended the ideals of the former leader as a way of consolidating democracy in Mozambique, comparing Afonso Dhlakama to historical figures such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King in the struggle for democracy.

“Our long-time president has taught us how to transform difficulties into a source of inspiration and growth,” he added, referring to Renamo’s complaints of fraud in the October 2018 municipal elections.

Momade said that the decentralisation package in force since December 2016, the result of the military truce between government forces and the armed wing of Renamo, would strengthen democracy.

The party chairman described as “political discrimination” the fact that Manuel Araújo, mayor of Quelimane, one of the country’s main cities, could be prevented from taking office by a decision taken by the Council of Ministers in August 2018.

Mozambique’s main opposition party is meeting for its three-day congress in a tent set up on one of the military bases in the Gorongosa mountain range.

The meeting is intended to culminate in the election of Afonso Dhlakama’s successor as party president and Renamo candidate for the presidential elections on October 15 of this year.

The congress brings together 700 delegates and 300 guests and will discuss, in addition to Dhlakama’s succession, the peace negotiations, the revision of the constitution and the election of a new secretary-general.

Raul Domingos’s Party for Peace, Democracy and Development (PDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) are taking part in the congress as guests.

Source: Lusa