Renamo to choose president next month – By Joseph Hanlon

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Renamo to choose president next month – By Joseph Hanlon

9:30 CAT | 12 Dec 2018

File photo: DW

Renamo will hold a congress 15-17 January to elect its new leader and presidential candidate, its National Council decided at a 29-30 November meeting at the Renamo military headquarters in Gorongosa. January is the height of the rainy season, and the spokesperson for the National Council, Jose Manteigas, said the meeting would take place at the military base, weather permitting, or in Gorongosa town. Manteigas expects 700 participants and 300 guests.

Three names are cited as likely candidates: interim coordinator Ossufo Momade, who holds the rank of general; Renamo General Secretary, Manuel Bissopo; and Afonso Dhlakama’s younger brother, Elias Dhlakama.

The National Council set requirements for candidates. Its original draft proposed that candidates had to have been in senior positions in Renamo, such as secretary general or provincial delegate. This would have excluded Elias Dhlakama, who as a government military officer was barred from holding a political office. But Elias supporters including Antonio Muchanga, Ivone Soares (head of the Renamo parliamentary bench and niece of the Dhlakamas) and Manuel Araujo (Mayor of Quelimane and married to Ivone Soare’s sister) pushed for his inclusion so the criteria were expanded to include “struggled for democracy”, meaning being in the Renamo military in the 1982-92 war. (AIM En 2 Dec, Carta de Mocambique 3 Dec)

The 54-year-old Elias Dhlakama was a Renamo guerrilla and was head of counter-intelligence for the north at the end of the war. He was sent to join the united national army, the FADM, when it was formed in 1994 and rose to become a Brigadier and head of general staff for the north. Elias has a masters degree in political science from the Catholic University in Lisbon. (Savana 7 Dec)

Afonso Dhlakama, who had led the party since 1979, died of diabetes in May.

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: News reports & clippings