Nyusi calls for inclusive approach to end post-election crisis

Maputo, 10 Jan (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has called for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach in the political dialogue aimed at ending the post-election crisis characterized by mass demonstrations called by the presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane in order to protest against the allegedly fraudulent results of the general elections held on 9 October.

Nyusi was speaking on Thursday, in Maputo, at the dialogue involving the leadership of the parties with seats in the Assembly of the Republic, the Mozambique parliament.

The meeting chaired by Nyusi took place on the same day that Mondlane returned to Mozambique after two months away. From abroad, Mondlane has been responsible for calling for mass demonstrations since 21 October. There are hopes that his return to the country could open a new phase of political dialogue.

The parties attending the Thursday meeting were the ruling Frelimo party, Podemos (Optimistic People’s Party for the Development of Mozambique), Renamo, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), and New Democracy (ND). ND is the only party not represented in the new parliament, and was included because of a fairly strong showing in the 2023 municipal elections.

“One of the things we’re going to delve into is what the final shape of the discussion will be”, said Nyusi. “It must be sustainable and gather consensus from the broad majority. We already know what we want, but now we have to look at how it’s represented”, he said.

For his part, the president elect and Frelimo Secretary General, Daniel Chapo, as spokesperson for all the parties, said the dialogue must be open to various segments of society.

“The dialogue table is open, as we said at the beginning”, he declared. “What we have here now are party platforms. We’re working on it, it’s an inter-party dialogue. That’s why the party leaders are here, but in the future it will be open to civil society and other social groups”.
(AIM)
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