- Ana Rita Sithole says Mondlane will come to terms and abandon plans for a parallel government
By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Ana Rita Sithole, a long-serving Member of Parliament and, until recently, a member of the Political Commission of the ruling Frelimo party, was the guest on this Thursday’s edition of MOZCAST.
In a one-hour conversation, Sithole addressed the current political climate in the country, shaped by the post-election unrest, and stated unequivocally that there is no room for a political agreement between Frelimo’s government and opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane.
Mondlane, President Daniel Chapo’s main political opponent and the leader of the nearly three-month-long post-election protests, recently announced the formation of a “government of the people” alongside the suspension of protests. This suspension, however, was contingent on Chapo’s government adopting a 25-point agenda for the first 100 days of governance.
In interviews with several international outlets, Mondlane declared he would only consider an agreement with the current government if it committed to meeting his demands, which he claims would benefit the Mozambican people.
When questioned about the possibility of such an agreement, Sithole dismissed it outright. “We cannot create false expectations,” she said, regarding a potential political accord between Daniel Chapo’s administration and Mondlane, who came second in last year’s presidential elections.
“There can be no political agreement, as our laws do not allow for one,” Sithole asserted. “Agreement with whom?” she continued, denying that Mondlane should be recognised as the leader of the opposition.
Sithole argued that the opposition leader status is legally designated to the head of the second-largest parliamentary party, which in this case is Albino Forquilha, leader of PODEMOS. Nevertheless, in practical political terms, Venâncio Mondlane is perceived as the government’s most prominent opponent.
Sithole conceded that social exclusion in the country, which has been governed by Frelimo for nearly 50 years, has exacerbated social tensions in the aftermath of the elections.
She pointed out that frequent conflicts between Frelimo and Renamo have also drained resources, hindering equitable distribution. “Key factors have led to much of the state’s revenue being diverted for other purposes, such as funding wars,” Sithole noted.
During the discussion, Sithole guaranteed that Daniel Chapo would be elected President of Frelimo at an extraordinary meeting of the Party’s Central Committee, scheduled for 14 February in Maputo.
“Our statutes are clear,” she stated. “The President elected in the presidential election automatically assumes the role of party President,” she added, dismissing claims from constitutional specialists that the Head of State is prohibited from holding additional public or private positions.
MOZCAST is a democratic debate podcast hosted by MOZTIMES, tackling pressing issues in Mozambican society. It airs every Thursday at 9:00 pm, with special editions when necessary. The show is presented by journalist Silide Mutemba. (MT)
