Momade insists he will resign – aimnews.org

Maputo, 27 Mar (AIM) – The leader of the former Mozambican rebel movement Renamo, Ossufo Momade, has insisted that he will resign from the party leadership by the end of this year.

Speaking Thursday at a meeting of Renamo generals and other senior officials in the central city of Chimoio, Momade declared, through the meeting’s spokesman, Hermínio Morais, that he will not be a candidate for the party presidency at the next Renamo congress, scheduled for the end of this year.

Morais, quoted by independent television STV, said at the meeting that Momade “guaranteed that he will no longer lead the party’s destiny from this year onwards. Some other figure must emerge to take over the leadership”.

“We heard this from him (Momade)”, declared Morais. “He reiterated that he is preparing his departure and trying to ensure that his successor finds a stable environment within Renamo”.

Momade was elected President of Renamo at a Congress held in 2019, and was re-elected at the party’s next Congress in 2024. Thus, contrary to what his opponents claim, Momade enjoys a certain democratic legitimacy. No one knows how much support their enemies within Renamo enjoy.

Over the past year, dissidents have repeatedly disrupted Renamo, occupying provincial and local positions and demanding Momade’s resignation.

The Chimoio meeting, said Morais, debated the internal state of Renamo. “This was an opportunity for us to reflect on the type of Renamo we want. Everyone knows that the party has not been functioning well. Some Renamo delegations are closed. However, through dialogue, we reached a consensus and reinforced the need for an environment of peace, taking into account the municipal elections of 2028 and the general elections of 2029.”

Morais stated that all Renamo offices will now be reopened. The meeting reinforced the internal consensus”, he stated. “The Renamo family is united” and the priority “is to roll up our sleeves and work for the Mozambican people”.
(AIM)
Pf/ (333)