MOZAMBIQUE: Growing expectation as Renamo March deadline to govern Mozambican provinces approaches

About a month ago, Afonso Dhlakama threatened that by the end of March, Renamo would set up autonomous governments in the provinces where it claims victory in general elections in 2014.

Voa (File photo) /Afonso Dhlakama photographed in Santungira, Gorongosa, in a meeting with journalists ( February 2016)

Although the threat suggested that this time nothing could go wrong, in fact, little has happened on the ground.

Political analyst Fernando Mbanze says this is worrying, because there is no preparatory action, either from the military or administrative points of view and, if nothing happens, Dhlakama’s leadership will be called into question, “because it will disappoint the expectations of the party’s supporters”.

Militarily, Renamo has intensified its attacks, the most recent being perpetrated against a Manica government delegation on Monday, during which three police officers were injured. The attack occurred in the Nhamatema area and was the first on government personnel since the recent resumption of Renamo ambushes against defense and security forces.

Commenting on the situation, Raul Domingos, a chief negotiator of the peace agreement signed with the government in Rome in 1992 and former Renamo number two, said the solution is a true inclusion, political, social and economic.

VOA/Club of Mozambique