Armando Emílio Guebuza Afirma que Daniel Chapo Não Deve Dialogar com Venâncio Mondlane
Former Mozambican president Armando Guebuza yesterday urged dialogue between the Mozambican head of state, Daniel Chapo, and Venâncio Mondlane, the former presidential candidate w
ho is leading a challenge to the election results.
“President Chapo has already stated that he is ready to speak with Venâncio Mondlane and Venâncio Mondlane also says he wants to speak. We will see the rest when they speak,” replied Armando Guebuza told journalists on the sidelines of Heroes’ Day celebrations in Maputo.
Mozambican president Daniel Chapo is in talks with political parties to discuss state reforms, including changes to the electoral law and to the Mozambican constitution, an initiative launched by the previous president, Filipe Nyusi, in response to the country’s post-electoral crisis.
A week ago, Chapo announced that a consensus had been reached on the terms of reference to discuss reforms, including changes to the electoral law, after a meeting with four party leaders, but without the presence of Mondlane, according to the Constitutional Council the second most voted-for candidate, and who is leading the fiercest challenge to the election results that the country has seen since the first elections in 1994.
During his speech yesterday at the Heroes’ Day celebrations, President Chapo promised to broaden the dialogue table to end the post-electoral crisis, foreseeing the inclusion of members of civil society and academics, but without mentioning Mondlane.
“The first phase of the dialogue involves political parties with seats in parliament and will subsequently include members of civil society, civic, religious and professional associations, as well as academia, so that together we can find joint solutions for the Mozambique we want,” Chapo said.
On Friday, the European Union Observation Mission to the October general elections in Mozambique argued that any solution to the post-electoral crisis in the country would involve the inclusion of Venâncio Mondlane in the dialogue.
“I believe that there is no political solution to this crisis without a dialogue that is truly inclusive and in which Venâncio Mondlane participates,” said the head of the European Union mission, Laura Ballarín, during a press conference to present the mission’s final report in Maputo.
Since October 21, Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of social unrest, with protests and strikes called by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane. Violent clashes between the police and demonstrators have resulted in at least 315 deaths, including those of around two dozen minors, and around 750 people suffering gunshot wounds, according to the electoral platform Decide, a non-governmental organization which monitors electoral processes in Mozambique. LEIA MAIS
