MOZAMBIQUE: Renamo accuses government of preparing “mega military offensive”

Renamo (Mozambique National Resistance), the main opposition party, has accused the government of being preparing a “mega military offensive” in the provinces of Manica and Sofala, in central Mozambique, threatening to respond if attacked.

Lusa / Afonso Dhlakama

In a statement sent to Lusa, the office of the president of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, accuses the Government of having mobilized 4,500 members of the defence and security forces to the provinces of Manica and Sofala, centre of the country, a region where the movement has  strong support.

“The concentration aims to carry out a mega-offensive in the districts of the Manica and Sofala provinces to prevent the implementation of the Renamo government”, says the press release, referring to the threat by the main opposition party to rule in the six provinces where it claims to have won the general elections in 2014.

Renamo claims that the deployment of the Mozambican army and  police extends to other parts of the country and believes that an alleged offensive will endanger human lives and material goods.

“The president of Renamo reiterates his readiness to engage in dialogue with the government of Frelimo  [Liberation Front of Mozambique ruling party] in a serious and responsible manner in order to overcome the current political and military crisis which has caused thousands of refugees,”  reads the text.

The political and military situation in Mozambique has deteriorated in recent weeks, with attacks on civilian vehicles columns escorted by the military attributed to Renamo in two sections of the country’s main road, in Sofala province, centre.

Although the head of the Mozambican state, Filipe Nyusi, and the Renamo leader, Afonso Dhlakama, reaffirmed their readiness for dialogue, the negotiation process between the government and the main opposition party has been blocked for several months.

Lusa