South Africa’s official opposition Democratic Alliance and its Mozambican counterpart, Renamo, have agreed to sign a record of understanding in the new year, the two parties announced on Tuesday.
This follows a visit by DA leader Tony Leon — accompanied by national chairperson Joe Seremane — to Mozambique to hold talks with Renamo, headed by Afonso Dhlakama.
Delegations from the DA and Renamo met on Monday in Maputo, Mozambique, for discussions on various issues related to their respective countries.
“Central to the discussions were the prospects for multiparty democracy, to which both the DA and Renamo are fully committed.
“Our delegations resolved that the cause of opposition as a central pillar of a multiparty system — in which both the Southern African Development Community and the African Union are founded — needs to be protected and is under threat from power-hungry majority parties in both South Africa and Mozambique,” said Dhlakama and Leon.
“We look forward to strengthening and deepening ties between our parties, notwithstanding our differences in ideology and national origins. Both parties look forward to taking this initial meeting forward in the new year by entering into a record of understanding once the necessary mandates have been received.
“We agree that the cause of multiparty democracy needs to be strengthened throughout our region and the continent.”
Renamo — the Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana (Mozambican National Resistance) — was established in 1976 by the then Rhodesian security services, but received military backing from the South African apartheid government in its insurgent operation against the ruling party, the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo).
In 1994, it participated in the first multiparty elections and won majorities in five provinces. It came close to attaining power in 1999, but shrank in the 2004 national election.
Leon acknowledged this week that the setbacks suffered by Renamo in the 2004 elections, however, “sounded a warning”.
He said: “What Mozambique must avoid is a situation that threatens democracy in neighbouring states — namely, that the ruling party uses its power and patronage to cut down and co-opt the opposition until it no longer forms as effective a political force and the prospect of one-party rule looms on the horizon.” — I-Net Bridge