“Renamo should not solve their problems by force” – Margarida Talapa

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“Renamo should not solve their problems by force” – Margarida Talapa

5:01 CAT | 14 Sep 2016

DW / Frelimo's parliamentary delegation, headed by Margarida Talapa (sitting, centre).

A delegation of Frelimo parliamentarians led by Margaret Talapa, member of the Parliamentary Commission and head of the Frelimo parliamentary bench, is on a working visit to Germany.

The delegation, which arrived last Friday, has an agenda including meetings with the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Friedriche-Ebert Foundation and the Federal Foreign Office, as well as meetings with the Mozambican community in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen…

In an exclusive interview with DW Africa, Talapa talked about the delegation’s visit to Germany.

DW Africa: Can you tell us the program and objectives of this visit to Germany?

Margaret Talapa (MT): The strengthening of relations of cooperation and friendship with our German brothers. We have had a relationship since independence. At the time there were several agreements. Many Mozambicans were in Germany receiving training and we also received many Germans in Mozambique. We have also come to make contact with various governmental institutions and political parties in order to collect experiences from the operation of the German parliament and increasingly improve our action in Mozambique. We have many Mozambicans residing in Germany and have held meetings with these communities. Generally, we are satisfied. We also have meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society institutions.

DW Africa: One hears of attacks, lack of security, a pre-civil war climate in the country. How do you explain what is happening in Mozambique to the Germans?

MT: We have explained that democratically elected Mozambican institutions are fully operational across the country, from the grass roots to the centre. The government is performing its activity by implementing the five-year program translated into economic and social plans. We explain that, of course, the major concern of Mozambicans is peace. Peace is threatened by violence and attacks perpetrated by a political force in parliament – Renamo. It decries the election results that are based on an electoral package approved by consensus. All political parties had the opportunity to participate, on an equal footing, from polling stations to the National Election Commission.

We, as the Frelimo bench, tell our compatriots that Mozambique is not at war. There are attacks that are being carried out by a group of men from an armed party whose main objective is to destabilise the Mozambican people and delay the development of the country. Mozambicans are tired of Renamo’s way of being and living. We condemn these actions, because several times the president invited Renamo and its leader for a meeting aimed at finding ways to overcome the differences. They requested the creation of a group of preparation of this meeting; Filipe Nyusi accepted. They requested the participation of external mediators; the head of state accepted. Mediators being there and the dialogue ongoing, we believed that Renamo could show a positive attitude and put an end to the attacks. Unfortunately, even while we are here in Germany, we heard that they have attacked an administrative post.

DW Africa: Over the weekend, just before the resumption of negotiations, there were Rapid Intervention Force attacks on Morrumbala and other Renamo bases. How is this to be explained?

MT: I think the negotiations began long ago. We call them dialogue. The Defence and Security Forces act in defence of the Mozambican people, according to the law. They are acting to defend the country’s sovereignty. The main problem is that Renamo, even while in dialogue, continues to attack civilians, kill civilians, destroy infrastructure, steal drugs from hospitals, destroying all the efforts of the Mozambican people and our government’s. Your question should be the other way round, because it is Renamo who are acting outside the law.

DW Africa: What about the dialogue that began this Monday (09/12) in the presence of international mediators? Is there hope for peace? Is there a good chance of reaching an agreement?

MT: Of course, within the Frelimo party and parliamentary group, we have hope. Our head of state has been waiting for a sign from Mr. Dhlakama for a long time. Renamo should stop attacking and threatening the political stability of the country and let Mozambicans get on with working for their own welfare. It is the people who, through democratic elections, grant power. Renamo should not solve their problems using force.

Source: Deutsche Welle