MAPUTO, The leaders of Mozambique’s two largest opposition parties, the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) and the Mozambican Democratic Movement (MDM), met on Tuesday behind closed doors to discuss the upcoming municipal elections set for October 10th.
During the meeting, Renamo and MDM leaders rejected the Commission to Reflect on the Viability of Holding District Elections (CRED) proposed by President Filipe Nyusi and his ruling party, Frelimo. The opposition leaders claimed that the commission was an abuse of power and intended to undermine democracy.
Lutero Simango, the president of the MDM, emphasized that the constitutional command to hold district elections was not up for debate. Simango added, “We at the MDM have already said several times that the constitutional command must be obeyed. The constitutional command is not up for discussion.”
Renamo president Ossufo Momade echoed Simango’s sentiments and criticized the President of the Republic for denying the district elections, stating that “It is abuse, as well as showing a lack of respect because what is in the law must be fulfilled.”
The meeting between the Renamo and MDM leaders is a significant development ahead of the municipal elections, which will be the first since the peace agreement signed in 2019. Observers hope that this meeting will lead to more cooperation between the two opposition parties and provide a united front against Frelimo in the upcoming elections.
The leaders did not release any official statements after the meeting. However, many are optimistic that the meeting will lead to a more unified opposition, which will improve their chances of success in the upcoming elections.
Source -MasimbaNews ✍