The normal procedure for the President to meet an opposition leader would be for the latter to come to the presidential office in Maputo – but Dhlakama demanded that Nyusi come to the northern provinces that he is currently visiting.
Speaking at a rally in Palma, in Cabo Delgado province, filmed by the independent television station STV, Dhlakama said he would meet Nyusi “in 24 hours”, if the latter came to Mocimboa da Praia, the next stop in his northern tour, or to the town of Montepuez, on Friday, or to Lichinga, capital of Niassa province, on Saturday.
Dhlakama was thus responding to the remarks made by Nyusi on Tuesday, when the President expressed his willingness to talk to Dhlakama, declaring that “through conversation, through dialogue, we can reach conclusions about what we think is useful for Mozambicans”.
Dhlakama also suddenly extended his claim for a separatist “Republic of Central and Northern Mozambique” to include Cabo Delgado. Initially, he had proposed to include only the six provinces where he claimed victory in the 15 October general elections. This week he extended the claim to cover Cabo Delgado even though nobody, not even Renamo, doubts that Nyusi and the ruling Frelimo Party won in this province.
Cabo Delgado is one of the provinces where Frelimo launched its war for Mozambican independence in September 1964, and has always been a Frelimo stronghold. Frelimo has won every general election held in Cabo Delgado.
For the past week, Dhlakama has been promising to declare his separatist republic “within days”, but there is still no sign of it. Dhlakama has yet to reveal any details about his planned secession, other than that he will be President of the new Republic. He has said nothing about how the government would be formed, or how it would obtain staff and funds.
Post published in: Africa News