Nampula (Mozambique), 2 Sep (AIM) – After a week of absence from the Mozambican election campaign, Ossufo Momade, the leader and presidential candidate of the main opposition party. Renamo, showed his face on Sunday in his home province of Nampula, with a march of seven kilometres from Nampula airport to the centre of Nampula city.
Momade declared that Renamo will fight against hunger. “We want to develop our country so that our people have lunch and dinner, at least two meals a day”, he declared.
But this, he added, would only be possible with the mechanization of Mozambican agriculture. This is exactly the same promise made by Daniel Chapo, the candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party.
Momade also promised far-reaching reforms in the public administration, in order to stamp out corruption. He would “confer dignity” on public servants, by ensuring that they received higher wages, which are paid on time.
“We want the nurses, the doctors and other public sector staff to receive their wages on time, and that those wages meet their needs”, he declared, “since the country has the money”.
He claimed that previous Presidents had failed to improve the lives of Mozambicans. “Chissano was here and he promised a better future. Guebuza came, saying that he was going to fight against corruption, but he did nothing. Nyusi will leave by the back door. He is leaving the country poorer, he is leaving the country without hospitals and without schools”, he claimed.
Momade did not explain the delay in starting his election campaign. He confirmed that he had been abroad, but denied that this was for reasons of health.
Renamo had earlier claimed that their leader was on an urgent mission that could not be delayed. But he did not explain the nature of this mission.
Although Nampula is the largest provincial constituency, Momade will only stay there for a day. On Monday, he plans to travel overland to the northernmost province of Niassa.
(AIM)
Pf/ (332)
