Venâncio Mondlane received by Portuguese president

Maputo, 25 Jul (AIM) – Venancio Mondlane, the independent candidate in Mozambique’s presidential election scheduled for 9 October completed his visit to Portugal on Wednesday, with an audience granted by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Mondlane, who was once a senior figure in Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, is currently backed by a grouping of six tiny extra-parliamentary parties, known as the Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD).

A CAD source cited Mondlane as saying that the Portuguese President “showed a genuine interest in my political and civic trajectory, as well as in the causes that we defend. We dealt with critical social questions in Mozambique, such as poverty, social inequalities, education and health”.

Mondlane claimed that Rebelo de Sousa “listened attentively” to his concerns about the forthcoming Mozambican elections, and the violations committed by the National Elections Commission (CNE).

“I urged President Marcelo that Portugal should not remain neutral”, said Mondlane. “It should have an active voice in the defence of human rights and political participation. We respect the limits of sovereignty, but it is crucial that respect be urged for the law and for human rights”.

According to the CAD source, Rebelo de Sousa was “understanding and sensitive to the challenges faced by Mozambique”. The meeting “strengthened the links of friendship and cooperation between the two countries”, and “reflected the commitment of both leaders to democratic values”.

Earlier in the week, Mondlane had met with leaders of the Portuguese far right political party, Chega, even though Chega’s links to the fascist regime overthrown 50 years again, means that it is shunned by every other significant force in Portuguese politics.

Rebelo de Sousa met with Mondlane after he had been criticized for meeting with the Frelimo presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in Lisbon in late June. Renamo protested that the meeting could be interpreted as support for Chapo’s presidential ambitions.

Rebelo de Sousa denied that he was showing any favoritism, and declared that he was willing to meet any other Mozambican presidential candidate who visited Lisbon.

(AIM)

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