Dissent Within Renamo Intensifies in Mozambique’s Gaza Province

Demonstrators in Xai-Xai, Mozambique, formerly associated with Renamo, called for party leader Ossufo Momade’s resignation, citing internal issues and corruption. They demanded an urgent meeting of the Renamo National Council and threatened ongoing protests until their demands are met, challenging the party’s current leadership structure.

On a recent Thursday, members of Mozambique’s former rebel group Renamo held a demonstration at their office in Xai-Xai, the capital of Gaza Province, calling for the resignation of Ossufo Momade, the party’s leader. The demonstrators identified themselves as demobilised former guerrillas and demanded the closure of the Renamo offices in addition to Momade’s removal.

The protest intensified with confrontations occurring between the demonstrators and Momade’s supporters, which included verbal insults and physical altercations. The dissenters attributed Renamo’s decline as the primary opposition force to a lack of internal dialogue and allegations of corruption that have surfaced over seven years under Momade’s leadership. They insisted on convening the Renamo National Council to address their grievances urgently.

The protestors accused Felix Tivane, the Renamo provincial delegate for Gaza, of displaying “arrogance.” In response, Tivane claimed that the dissidents were attempting to destabilize the party’s unity. The demonstrators vowed to continue their protest at the Xai-Xai office until Momade is removed from his position as party president.

The recent demonstration by former Renamo members in Xai-Xai underscores the growing dissent within the party, reflecting demands for leadership change and addressing accusations of internal corruption. This unrest reveals significant dissatisfaction with current leadership, highlighting the need for a more inclusive dialogue within the party to restore its position as a formidable opposition force.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com