Mozambique’s Venâncio Mondlane open to serving in Daniel Chapo’s government

The leader of the opposition parties in Mozambique, Venâncio Mondlane, has told the BBC that he is ready to serve in the government if the president of the country, Daniel Chapo, fulfills his wishes in order to end the political conflict that has affected the country following the controversial elections.

Chapo said he has set up a group that is considering whether a candidate should be invited to join the new “combined” government.

The two men shared their views in an interview with the BBC, indicating they are ready to cooperate after the deaths of nearly 300 people in the post-election riots.

Mondlane denied his defeat in the October election, saying the results were rigged – something Chapo denied.

The Supreme Court of Mozambique said Chapo was the winner with 65% of the votes compared to Mondlane’s 24%.

Chapo was a member of the ruling Frelimo party, while Filipe Nyusi had to resign after serving for two years.

Chapo was sworn in as President on 15 January, a week after Mondlane held a ceremony declaring himself “the people’s president”.

Mondlane told the BBC that Chapo was “forced” into the country, and “the president of the security forces”.

Mondlane said he decided to suspend the protests for the first 100 days of his term as long as he did the following:

• They release about 5,000 people who have been arrested for taking part in protests against the results of the election.
• give compensation to the families of people killed by the police during the protests and
• provide free treatment to about 200 people injured by the police.

Mondlane said that if Chapo accepts this, he will “open the window” for negotiations, otherwise he will ask his supporters to resume protests.

When asked if he is ready to work in Chapo’s government, Mondlane replied: “Yes, if he is interested in working with me. He got the opportunity to invite me to the negotiation table.”

In an interview with the BBC, Chapo said he wants to “governe in a unified way” and to implement changes to deal with complaints about electoral laws, human rights and freedom of speech.

He said negotiations are underway with the opposition parties represented in the new parliament, and will later be expanded to include “all groups of people”.

Chapo added that he wants to establish a government open to all Mozambicans, but he wants to emphasize that “people’s history is very important”.

When asked if he believes that Mondlane is suitable to work in the government, Chapo replied: “It depends… because there is a group that is looking for, on people’s reputation, their skills, their respect, their patriotism – all these important things that I mean.

“If the group comes to the conclusion that these people have a good reputation, they will be part of the government. Those who do not have this reputation, will not participate.”

Mr. Chapo is 47 years old, he was chosen by Frelimo, which has been in power since its independence 49 years ago, to be its candidate to gather young people who are affected by the lack of work, and tired of the party’s rule for many years.

He told the BBC that he wants foreign and foreign investment to increase in Mozambique so that the economy can be strong.

This would help create jobs for young people to “build their homes, establish their families and settle down in their lives”.

Mondlane, 50, appeared to have great support among young people after he inspired them during the election with the slogan “Save Mozambique – this country is ours”.

He contested the election as an independent after leaving the main opposition Renamo party.

The minority party that supported his candidacy won several seats in the parliament in the election.