Maputo, 3 Jul (AIM) – Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, has accused the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, of involving himself in the pre-campaign of Daniel Chapo, the candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party for the presidential election scheduled for 9 October.
Renamo was angered that Rebelo de Sousa received Chapo, on his visit to Portugal last week.
A statement issued by Renamo on Tuesday said that the party was surprised that the Portuguese President had met with Chapo. “We find it strange that the President of the Portuguese Republic met with the Frelimo candidate for the October presidential election”, it said, since this could be interpreted as support for Chapo’s presidential ambitions.
Renamo declared that it is faithful to “the universal principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”.
It added that Renamo is committed to “closer relations of friendship and cooperation with the brother country of Portugal”.
Chapo had met with Rebelo de Sousa last Thursday, the first day of his visit to Portugal.
Portugal was the latest country to be visited in Chapo’s tour of several of Mozambique’s close allies. He had earlier visited Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Angola.
Chapo did not hide his intention to consolidate support for Frelimo in the countries he visited. In a meeting with Frelimo members in Lisbon, cited by the independent newssheet “Carta de Mocambique”, Chapo said “we are visiting brother parties, countries and peoples and interacting with comrades and Mozambicans in the diaspora”.
He said his presidential candidacy was one of “renewal and hope. I believe that, as a young person, I should think outside the box. We need to do innovative things so that, in the coming years, the country may be different. We have to win our economic independence which is only possible if the country defines priority areas for change”.
After his meeting with Rebelo de Sousa, Chapo said “President Marcelo has never hidden his love for Mozambique and once again he gave us useful advice for consolidating our project in Mozambique”.
Chapo met with the General Secretary of Portugal’s Social Democratic Party (PSD), Hugo Soares, and with the General Secretary of the main opposition force, the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos. Frelimo has relations with both parties, who guaranteed continued cooperation and support.
Historically, Frelimo’s main links have been with the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), and so Chapo also met with the PCP General Secretary, Paulo Raimundo, who reaffirmed “our deep and sincere friendship”. He pledged that Frelimo could rely on the PCP’s support in the battles ahead, and was confident of Frelimo’s victory in the October elections.
(AIM)
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