Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, has accused Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of “complicity” in Frelimo’s election campaign for meeting with the ruling party’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo.
“A surprised Renamo expresses its dissatisfaction with this event and regrets the participation of the Portuguese President in the election campaign in the hope of a better consideration,” the statement said.
The Renamo party says it “observed with strangeness the meeting between the President of the Portuguese Republic (…) and Frelimu’s candidate for the presidential elections next October, Daniel Francisco Chapo.”
The meeting, which took place during the election campaign, can be interpreted as “support” by the Portuguese head of state in full for the presidential candidate from the Frelimo party, as well as the secretary general of this political force, according to the note of protest.
Renamo states that it is true to the universal principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and is committed to close relations of cooperation and friendship with the “brotherly country” Portugal.
Frelimu’s candidate for the October 9 presidential elections stressed that on Thursday, his first day in Portugal, he was received by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
In recent weeks, Daniel Chapo, who is also Frelimo’s interim secretary general, has been making presentational visits abroad.
On June 26, Chapo was received by the President of Angola, João Lourenço, also the Chairman of the MPLA, with whom he discussed aspects related to the development of Angola and Mozambique and cooperation between the two countries, and from whom he also received “a guarantee of spiritual, moral support.”
Renamo is backing Ossoufou Momade in his bid for the October 11 presidential election.
The presidential election will be held simultaneously with legislative elections, as well as gubernatorial and provincial assembly elections.
Mozambique’s current Frelimo president, Filipe Nyusi, is constitutionally barred from running for office again as he is currently serving his second term as head of state after being elected in 2015 and 2019.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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