CHARLES MANGWIRO, Quelimane | Friday
THE number two leader in Mozambique’s powerful official opposition party, Renamo, has been axed for allegedly betraying party leader Afonso Dlhakama in return for financial reward from the ruling Frelimo party.
Raul Domingos, Dlhakama’s right-hand man in Renamo, was formally expelled from the party by Renamo’s national council meeting in the central province of Zambezia this week.
Radio Mozambique quoted council chairman Ossufo Momade as saying the party sacked Domingos because he had been “fooled” into betraying the party leadership with promises of financial reward by President Jaoquim Chissano’s ruling Frelimo party.
“He has betrayed the party and Renamo’s leadership,” said Momade.
Momade said Domingos allegedly accepted pledges of financial assistance from Mozambican transport minister Tomas Salomao for his struggling private company while supposedly negotiating for a recount of votes for the contested December 1999 general elections.
Dhlakama won 47,71% of the presidential vote to Chissano’s 52,29%, while Renamo scooped 117 parliamentary seats against 133 for Chissano’s Frelimo party.
Renamo contends that Frelimo rigged the vote in certain key provinces, and since has publicly demanded new elections, an independent recount, or the urgent appointment of Renamo governors in the six provinces where the party won a majority vote.
President Chissano confirmed receiving the demands in June, but added last week that Domingos also asked for protection from his own party because he was allegedly “discontented” and feared for his safety.
Chissano said Domingos demanded that the government pay Dlhakama a US$10 000 monthly salary, in addition to a US$1m monthly payment to Renamo itself as an operational budget, and the appointment of selected Renamo leaders as provincial governors. Other key demands included the restructuring of Mozambique’s army and the central intelligence agency.
Domingos allegedly said Renamo would in return drop its legal and public challenge of election results and would formally recognise the current government.
Domingos was Renamo’s chief negotiator during the run-up to the 1992 Rome peace pact, which finally got Renamo and Frelimo to agree to end the country’s debilitating 16-year civil war. Armando Guebuza headed Frelimo’s negotiating team. – African Eye News Service
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