Mozambique's main opposition party rejects idea of Chissano becoming mediator
Joaquim Chissano, a former president of Mozambique, at Fairmont The Norfolk hotel in Nairobi on February 26, 2013. PHOTO | EMMA NZIOKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
State-owned Radio Mozambique reported on Thursday last week that Chissano was available and ready to mediate between Renamo and the ruling party Frelimo.
Peace negotiations between the Maputo Government and Renamo that began in July have so far borne no fruit.
MAPUTO, Monday
Mozambique's main opposition party, Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), has rejected the idea of former President Joaquim Chissano becoming a mediator between it and the government.
Voice of America radio quoted Renamo spokesman Antonio Muchanga saying Chissano was one of the main causes of the conflict “since he failed to fulfil the 1992 peace accord”.
“Joaquim Chissano is not qualified to mediate the conflict,” Muchanga said during the interview.
State-owned Radio Mozambique reported on Thursday last week that Chissano was available and ready to mediate between Renamo and the ruling party Frelimo.
Peace negotiations between the Maputo Government and Renamo that began in July have so far borne no fruit.
The talks are led by international mediators.
Last week, the mediators left the country and vowed not to return unless invited by the warring parties.
The team included representatives of the European Union, the Catholic Church and South African Government officials.
Frelimo and Renamo have so failed to resolve the post-October 2014 electoral disagreements.
Renamo, led by Alfonso Dhlakama, waged a 16-year bloody war against Frelimo that ended in 1992. The war claimed an estimated one million lives.
