Mozambican unity deal sought before polls

Mozambican unity deal sought before polls

By Rachel Waterhouse

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AFP): Mozambique's former rebel movement RENAMO and two leading opposition parties have called for an agreement to set up a government of national unity ahead of forthcoming elections.

The ruling FRELIMO government will not commit itself to any power sharing agreement until after the October election, according to its most recent statements.

In apparent departure from his earlier stance, Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) leader, Afonso Dhlakama called for a government of national unity in a weekend communique.

"If I win elections, which I will, I shall invite people of professional and educational stature to join, independently of their party positions ... I will opt for a government of national unity," Dhlakama said.

Opinion polls conducted by national and foreign researchers suggest that FRELIMO is the clear favorite for coming elections, with RENAMO a poor second and the three or four other parties lagging even further behind.

Most of the 14 non-armed opposition parties were formed after they were legalized by a new national constitution in 1990 and still have only marginal support.

At round table discussions hosted by the privately-owned weekly paper, Domingo, RENAMO Secretary General Vicente Ululu said "we are going to contest elections, but the party who wins should not take 'a winner-takes-all attitude.' It should accept certain individuals who may not be from that party but are competent."

Maximo Dias, leader of the MONAMO opposition, told the round table that given the severity of the country's socio-economic crisis there is no single political party capable of governing Mozambique well on its own.

"Even with the very small number of simultaneously competent and political honest people we have, for a strong but non- authoritarian government we need to have a GUN" -- or government of national unity -- he said.

Ancio Chire, foreign affairs representative for the second opposition Partido De Convencao Nacional said all the political parties should reach agreement on a post-election GUN, ahead of the elections.

"For example, a party which gains over 25 percent of the votes should have the right to choose a vice president, above 15 percent, the right to choose a minister," he said.

The ideas were dismissed as premature by Alcidio Ngwenha, a member of the FRELIMO political commission, who attended the round table meeting.

Ngwenha said the opposition could not assume they were legitimate representatives of the people before elections proved it.

"The government elected in October will be responsible for guaranteeing peace, stability and national equilibrium," and this meant opting for reconciliation, Ngwenha said.