Chapo promises to bring civil society into dialogue

Maputo, 13 Mar (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has promised to include three figures “of recognised merit” from civil society into the forthcoming rounds of political dialogue – but he did not say who they would be.

Speaking in Maputo on Wednesday, Chapo claimed that the outcome of the signing of the agreement on an “inclusive national political dialogue” is “extremely positive” because it opens space for the participation of various other sectors of society.

Chapo and nine political parties signed the agreement last week. However, absent from the signing ceremony was the most popular of Mozambique’s opposition politicians, former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

The parties which signed the agreement included all those represented in the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic – namely, the ruling Frelimo Party, the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos – which is now the official opposition), the former rebel movement Renamo, and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).

Thanks to its representation in the Gurúè Municipal Assembly, in the central province of Zambezia province, Nova Democracia (ND – New Democracy) was also present.

Also at the signing ceremony were four tiny political organizations which managed to win seats last October in Provincial Assemblies). These are Democratic Revolution (RD), a breakaway from Renamo, which holds six seats in the Niassa Assembly; the Humanitarian Party of Mozambique (PAHUMO), with eight seats in Cabo Delgado; the Social Renovation Party (PARESO), with two seats in Inhambane; and the National Reconciliation Party (PARENA), which holds five seats in the Gaza assembly.

These results are inexplicable. How did PAHUMO, a party which most Mozambicans have never heard of, win eight seats in Cabo Delgado, but none in any other province?

According to Chapo, speaking minutes after the conclusion of another round of the dialogue, “society understands that this is not the end of a process, but the beginning of it.”

“As you know very well, on 5 March, the political commitment for a national and inclusive dialogue was signed”, he told the meeting. “It was extremely positive, there was a good presence from various social sectors, from civil society, political parties, academia, young people, women, religious leaders, community leaders, so all social sectors were represented”.

Chapo claimed that society has understood that “this is the start of a process and not the end” as the agreement opens space for the participation of three civil society figures of recognized merit.

“The other aspect is that we want to draw up an action plan for the implementation of this political commitment. So in the next few days there will be the drawing up of the action plan on the one hand and there will also be the drawing up of the terms of reference for the integration of the three civil society figures so that we can start the debate”, he said.

He added that the document for national and inclusive dialogue will be submitted to the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, so that it may serve as “a credible basis for all Mozambicans to participate in dialogue.”

But if Venancio Mondlane, with his mass following, is kept out, the dialogue can hardly be called “inclusive”.
(AIM)
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