Mozambican president held second meeting with opposition leader

MAPUTO, Mozambique

Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo and the country’s main opposition leader, former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, met for the second time on Tuesday.

In a release from the presidential office, Chapo said the meeting was held “in the framework of the inclusive political dialogue with all strata of society”, and in “an environment of mutual respect and patriotic spirit”. The meeting “was centred on the promotion of peace, reconciliation and stability”.

At the end of the meeting, Chapo stressed dialogue as an essential instrument for the construction of a peaceful and prosperous country. “Peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, harmony and brotherhood between Mozambicans is very important”, he said. “Hence, our objective is to hold a dialogue with the purpose of attaining and consolidating peace and reconciliation, because there is only development when there is peace and security. We can only achieve peace by entering into dialogue with all strata of society”.

During the meeting with Mondlane, Chapo stressed his commitment to national unity and to reconciliation among Mozambicans. The future of the country, he said, depends on the contributions of all its citizens, regardless of their political beliefs.

Mondlane described the meeting as “productive” and “positive”, while recognising that there remain points of disagreement. He was particularly concerned at the continued detention of protestors who were arrested following the unrest in the wake of the declaration, in December, of general election results widely regarded as fraudulent.

“We need a clear vision, with deadlines, of how we are going to deal with this matter”, said Mondlane.

He was also concerned at the continued violence, despite his first handshake with Chapo on 23 March. Mondlane gave Chapo a copy of the report he had presented to the Attorney-General containing evidence of these cases.

Despite the challenges, Mondlane said the two leaders had reached “mutual understanding” on six points, including deadlines for implementation. “What is important is that from now on we must monitor this, for the benefit of our population”, he stressed.

Chapo reaffirmed that he was holding channels open to listen to and discuss “with all the relevant actors in Mozambican society. We shall continue to hold meetings with all Mozambicans so that we can continue to work and develop our country”.

Both men, the Presidential release said, stressed the importance of “an inclusive and constructive dialogue as a fundamental pillar for the strengthening of democracy and for a joint search for sustainable solutions to the challenges of national development”.