
Presidente da República, Daniel Chapo, e Primeira-Dama da República, Gueta Chapo, no Culto Inter-Religioso de Arrependimento e Reconciliação
Maputo, 17 Jan (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo promised on Thursday that he will continue the dialogue between the government and the main political parties, begun by his predecessor, Filipe Nyusi.
Speaking in Maputo at “an inter-religious service of repentance and reconciliation”, Chapo said “the dialogue began with the former president. We shall follow up this dialogue, and I am absolutely sure that we shall find mechanisms to stabilise the country as quickly as possible”.
He stressed that he will work with the support of the religious leaders, and of Mozambicans in general, to achieve social, economic and political stability.
Chapo said that, when he received the invitation from the religious groups, he asked whether “my brothers, who competed against me, would be present, and they said they would be”.
He was referring to the opposition candidates in the 9 October presidential elections – the runner-up, Venancio Mondlane, and the leaders of Renamo and of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Ossufo Momade and Lutero Simango.
In fact, none of them turned up to the meeting, and Chapo did not hide his disappointment, “I came here in the hope that they would be present, and that when we embraced, everybody would see that we are Mozambican brothers”, he said. “But my brothers are not here”.
He lamented that at the end of elections, the country always slides into instability – something which the opposition blames on repeated election fraud committed by the ruling Frelimo party.
“We must unite”, declared Chapo, “and work so as to launch our main message, which God always wanted – love each other”. He added that in politics there are no enemies, only adversaries.
Chapo promised that he will continue to work for peace, stability and national reconciliation, which he described as “important corner-stones for development”.
Mondlane insists that he, not Chapo, won the presidential election, and even claimed that he swore himself into office, when he returned to the country last week after two months of self-imposed exile.
He says that on Friday afternoon, he will present a programme for the next 100 days, as if he were a real president.
The religious gathering did not go entirely to plan. At one point a pastor, apparently a supporter of Venancio Mondlane, declared loudly “Give back the votes you stole”.
He said that, for as long as Frelimo did not return its “stolen votes” it would be useless to intercede with God for pardon and reconciliation.
The pastor was removed from the room and only allowed to return in the afternoon.
(AIM)
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