Renamo demobilized threaten to resume occupations

Maputo, 15 Jul (AIM) – A group of demobilized fighters of Mozambique’s former rebel movement Renamo on Monday threatened to occupy once again the party’s provincial and regional delegations throughout the country because the party leadership has not yet met their demands.

According to João Machava, a spokesperson for the former guerrillas, who was speaking on Monday to reporters in Maputo, the Renamo leadership is refusing to call an urgent meeting of the Renamo National Council.

The demobilised men hope to use the National Council to force the resignation of Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, who is blamed for Renamo’s poor results in last year’s general elections.

“Starting today, we are once again closing Renamo offices at all levels until our demands are met”, said Machava. He insisted that by calling for a meeting of the National Council, the former guerrillas are merely demanding that the Renamo leadership respect the party’s statutes. Such a meeting of the National Council, he added, should be open to the demobilised and to other Renamo militants.

The party’s Maputo headquarters and Momade’s personal offices had been reopened in June following weeks of protests against Momade’s leadership. The protesters were eventually removed with gunfire and tear gas by the riot police (UIR), which also detained over 50 men.

According to Machava, the resumption of the protest is the result of the absence of statements from the party leadership.

“We want to call on the government once again not to interfere in the party’s internal affairs, as this attitude will force or push us to take unwelcome actions. It is important that the government understands that we are also people and, as such, we also feel pain, and this pain will lead us to react, and you can be sure that no one will like it”, he said.
(AIM)
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