Renamo team named – first talks about talks tomorrow

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Renamo team named – first talks about talks tomorrow

3:45 CAT | 24 May 2016

In File Club Of Mozambique

Renamo has named its team for talks about talks with the government and the first meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 25 May).

Renamo has named three members of parliament, Jose Manteigas, Eduardo Namburete and Andre Magibire. The first two are prominent while the third is less known but said to be trusted by Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama. The government team is former security minister Jacinto Veloso, former justice minister Maria Benvinda Levi, and Alves Muteque, an official in the Presidencia who is so unknown that O Pais could not find a picture of him.

There is very cautious optimism. Both sides have nominated reasonable teams – two experienced negotiators and one person close to their president. President Filipe Nyusi made important concessions, notably stressing these were to be unconditional talks about talks and that they could discuss mediation. It is reported that government is now prepared to accept some form of international mediation. Both sides have been rigid and poor negotiators in the past, and mediators could be very useful in finding acceptable compromises.

On Dhlakama’s demand to name six governors, both sides have hinted at compromise. There are discussions inside government on ways to define and restrict the powers of governors to be more like mayors, which would allow them to be elected, while Dhlakama has hinted that he too is prepared for some compromise on this.

But these are only talks about talks, so a settlement is still a long way off.

Meanwhile both sides have escalated the fighting. On Monday there were two attacks on buses and other traffic on the N1 road in Sofala between the rivers Save and Zambeze with one person killed. And government military action appears to be increasing in Manica and Zambezia.

By: Joseph Hanlon

Source: News reports & clippings