Former Renamo guerrillas in northern Mozambique closed the party’s provincial delegation in Nampula, protesting against the leadership of Ossufo Momade and provincial delegate Abiba Aba. Their actions seek to demand accountability and the reinstatement of dialogue within the party following unsuccessful elections. The demonstration highlights significant internal conflicts within Renamo after their diminished role in the parliament.
Dozens of former guerrillas from the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) staged a protest by closing the party’s provincial delegation in Nampula on Tuesday morning. This demonstration was aimed at expressing their discontent with the provincial leadership and Ossufo Momade, the party president. A former guerrilla, Carolina Yahaia, stated, “We don’t want provincial delegate Abiba Aba; she should leave… She and our president Ossufo Momade should leave.”
The protest arises in the context of a leadership challenge against Ossufo Momade following Renamo’s electoral performance on October 9, where the party secured only 28 seats in the Mozambican parliament, losing its status as the second-largest political entity to the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), which holds 43 seats. Renamo had recently postponed its National Council meeting initially scheduled for March 7 and 8, which was meant to address the political state of the nation and the party.
This closure in Nampula is seen as a strategic effort to compel current leaders to resign from their positions. A former guerrilla, Ernesto Douglas, remarked on the changes under Momade’s leadership, asserting, “After the loss of our president Afonso Dhlakama, we are swallowing frogs… Anyone who had an idea of General Dhlakama was censored and removed.” Accordingly, the former fighters are calling for more inclusive dialogue within the party.
In light of their grievances, the former Renamo guerrillas previously sought to meet with the provincial delegate but reported unsuccessful attempts. Nelson Carvalho, Renamo’s spokesperson in the province, responded to the situation by clarifying that the closure was a preventative measure initiated by the party to avoid potential confrontations among members. This initiative reflects ongoing tensions within Renamo.
It is worth noting that Ossufo Momade, who assumed leadership after the passing of party founder Afonso Dhlakama, previously ran for the presidency during the recent elections but only garnered 5.81% of the votes—a historically poor performance for a Renamo candidate. The political history of Mozambique is deeply rooted in the civil conflict between the government and Renamo, which concluded with the peace agreement in 1992, leading to the nation’s first elections.
The protest by former Renamo guerrillas in Nampula against the party’s leadership underscores the internal turmoil within the party following disappointing election results. The closure of the provincial delegation reflects a broader demand for accountability and dialogue from the current leadership. These developments reveal the ongoing challenges faced by Renamo as it navigates its political future after years of civil strife and leadership transitions.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
