– Political analysts view dialogue as the path to post-election stability
By Sheila Nhancale
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, met on Sunday night in Maputo with his main opponent, former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane. According to an official statement released by the Presidency in the early hours of Monday, the meeting aimed to “discuss solutions in response to the challenges the country is facing.”
The meeting marks the first time the two leaders have engaged in dialogue since the October elections, the results of which were contested and triggered a wave of protests and unrest across various regions of the country.
“The meeting underscores the need to deepen reconciliation and consolidate a stable political environment, essential for the country’s socio-economic development,” reads the statement.
Jaime Guiliche, a political science lecturer at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, told MOZTIMES that the meeting raises positive expectations, as it represents a concrete first step towards possible pacification, although the content of the dialogue has not yet been made public.
“Since the beginning of the post-election crisis, the main expectation has been a meeting between the most relevant actors in this process. Personally, I have always argued that the priority should be a meeting between the presidential candidates, and not necessarily between political parties,” Guiliche stated.
“Mondlane, as the second most-voted candidate, holds significant political weight, which fully justifies his inclusion in any dialogue aimed at resolving the crisis,” he added.
Guiliche also highlighted the importance of having mediators and/or observers present at the meeting, notably the President of the Bar Association, Carlos Martins. “This demonstrates the seriousness of the meeting and the need for institutional oversight to ensure transparency and legitimacy in the process,” he emphasised.
Political analyst Arcénio Cuco believes the meeting is crucial for ensuring the inclusion of all key players in the post-election crisis, noting that a dialogue without Venâncio Mondlane would be ineffective. “A dialogue without one of the main protagonists would yield no results,” Cuco told MOZTIMES. “What can be hoped for now is that the dialogue brings an end to the post-election crisis that has persisted since the October elections,” he added.
Last October’s presidential elections were described as fraudulent by several domestic and international observers and were strongly contested by the opposition, resulting in political tension and widespread demonstrations, which were violently suppressed by the police. At least 361 people died during the protests, most of them shot during clashes with police forces, according to data from Decide, a non-governmental organisation that monitors post-election violence in Mozambique.
The meeting takes place one month after President Chapo signed a Political Commitment for National Dialogue with nine political parties that participated in the political dialogue sessions — excluding Venâncio Mondlane. This commitment aims to establish principles and guidelines for an inclusive national dialogue, addressing key issues such as constitutional reform and governance. (SN)
