Nyusi attends Dhlakama memorial service
BEIRA. — Mozambique’s president set aside political differences to pay tribute to his arch-rival Afonso Dhlakama and pledged to continue the fragile peace talks he had been holding with the ex-rebel supremo turned opposition politician.
President Filipe Nyusi joined thousands of mourners who flocked to the port city of Beira yesterday to pay their last respects to Dhlakama, a towering but divisive figure in the country’s political history who died last week.
“We’re here to genuinely pay homage to the man who I’ve been talking to in recent days in search of lasting peace,” said President Nyusi in a eulogy at a memorial service for Dhlakama.
“I will continue the walk we started together for peace. I’m available to do this,” President Nyusi said, urging cooperation from the new Renamo leadership.
“We’ll be happy if we successfully continue the peace project we started together,” he said, adding: “We can’t have democracy without a strong opposition.”
Ossufo Momade, Renamo’s interim leader until the next party congress whose date has not yet been fixed, vowed to carry the baton from Dhlakama.
“We will continue your struggle. You, father, taught us how to sacrifice ourselves to fight for the country,” Momade said.
“You did everything for this country. Now is our time to take forward your struggle,” he added.
Dhlakama led Renamo for nearly 40 years before his unexpected death at the age of 65.
After Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, Dhlakama’s predecessor André Matsangaissa was backed by Rhodesians to form the Mozambican National Resistance Movement (Renamo).
A deadly 16-year civil war against the Frelimo government ensued until the conflict ended in 1992.
Dhlakama then gradually transformed Renamo into an opposition party, which failed to take power from Frelimo in elec- tions and again took up arms between 2013 and 2016.
In December 2016, Dhlakama announced a surprise truce with the government, taking the major first step towards a formal peace deal.
Dhlakama had recently held talks with President Nyusi and he was seen as playing a key role in advancing the nascent peace process.
His departure has cast a shadow over the negotiations, five months ahead of local government elections and 18 months to the next presidential and legislative elections.
In a fiery tribute, Dhlakama’s niece and head of Renamo’s parliamentary group Ivone Soares lauded her uncle for not caving in to incessant attacks by the “system and this indigent regime”.
Dhlakama “protected us from the tyranny, dictatorship, of those who abuse the wealth of country for their own benefit”.
“He’s gone but we are here to continue his fight. We will continue the fight with bravery. Let us all be Dhlakamas”.
Soldiers wearing camouflage fatigues and white gloves bore the casket bearing Dhlakama’s remains, draped with the national flag, into the square.
Dhlakama died of a suspected heart attack last Thursday at his hideout in the Gorongosa mountains in the centre of the country. Other sources claim that he was diabetic.
The memorial service was held in Beira, capital of Dhlakama’s home province of Sofala. There is “nothing more to do at this moment than to pay homage to the founder of democracy, which he deserves. It was Renamo who founded democracy,” said Jose Chitula, a former Renamo member.
“The death of Afonso Dhlakama should not be an excuse to end democracy and return to a one-party regime,” added Chitula, who joined another opposition party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).
Posters bearing images of Dhlakama from various moments of his political life were plastered around the square.
Gospel music played as some female mourners wept. Dhlakama will be buried in his native village of Mangunde, southwest of Beira, today.