The leader of the opposition in Mozambique, Venâncio Mondlane, told the BBC that he is ready to work in the government if President Daniel Chapo meets his demands to end the political turmoil that has engulfed the country following the election disputes.
Chapo said he has set up a team “considering” whether his rival should be invited to join the new “unifying” government.
The two men expressed their positions in different interviews with the BBC, giving the impression that they are open to getting closer after the deaths of around 300 people in post-election smoking.
Mondlane dismissed his defeat in the October election, saying the result was rigged – something Chapo denied.
The Supreme Court of Mozambique announced that Chapo was the winner with 65% of the votes to Mondlane’s 24%.
Chapo was a candidate for the ruling party Frelimo, as the former president, Filipe Nyusi, had to step down after serving two terms.
Chapo was officially sworn in as president on January 15, almost a week after Mondlane held his own meeting to declare himself “the people’s president”.
Mondlane told the BBC that Chapo was “forced” into the nation, and was “the president of the defense force”.
Mondlane said however, he decided to stop the protests in the first 100 days of his opponent under the condition that he does the following:
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They unconditionally released about 5,000 people who were arrested for participating in protests against the election results.
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pay financial compensation to the families of people killed by the police during the protests and
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provided free medical treatment to around 200 people injured by the police.
Mondlane said that if Chapo agrees to this, he will “open a window” for negotiations, otherwise he will call his followers to renew the protests.
Asked if he is willing to work in Chapo’s government, Mondlane replied: “Yes, if he has a real desire to work with me. He got the opportunity to invite me to the negotiation table.”
Daniel Chapo promised to end the division created in this election [EPA]
In his interview with the BBC, Chapo said he wanted to “govern in an inclusive manner”, and introduce reforms to address concerns about electoral law, human rights and freedom of expression.
He said there are ongoing discussions with the opposition parties represented in the new parliament, and they will later be expanded to include “all sections of society”.
Chapo added that he wants to establish a government “open to all Mozambicans”, but he wants to emphasize that “the profile of the people is very important”.
Asked if he believes that Mondlane is ready to work in the government, Chapo replied: “It will depend… because there is a team that thinks that, from the people, their skills, their respect, their patriotism.” these are the pre-requisites I am talking about.
“If the team reaches the conclusion that these people have the right profile, they will be part of the government. Those who do not have that information, will not participate.”
The 47-year-old Chapo was chosen by Frelimo, which has ruled since independence 49 years ago, as its member to mobilize young voters affected by high unemployment, and fed up with the party’s decades of rule.
He told the BBC that he wants local and foreign investment to increase in Mozambique to make the economy “very strong”.
This will help create job opportunities for young people to “build their homes, establish their families and stabilize their lives”.
Mondlane, 50, appeared to have a lot of support among the youth after he mobilized them during his election campaign with the slogan “Save Mozambique – this country is ours”.
He ran as an independent candidate after breaking away from the opposition party Renamo.
The small party that supported his nomination won a few seats in the parliament in the election.
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[Getty Images/BBC]
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