Good afternoon. A week, they say, is a long time in politics. Last week, President Filipe Nyusi showed no interest in holding talks, much less negotiations, with opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane amid the increasingly violent protests over the disputed election results. Meanwhile, Mondlane (who of course insists that he won the presidential election, contrary to official results) was asserting as recently as Tuesday that he would be inaugurated as president of Mozambique next month.
Both sides are now showing signs of softening their positions. In a meeting with media editors this morning at his office, Nyusi indicated that he would be prepared to enter into meaningful talks with Mondlane, and revealed that there had been ongoing contact between the government or ruling party Frelimo, or both, and the Mondlane camp. What those talks could lead to he did not say. But Zitamar News understands that Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s presidential candidate and the official president-elect, and his supporters would be prepared to talk about setting up a government of national unity, something that Mondlane has also signalled his support for, according to an informed source.
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Tom Bowker
From the Zitamar Live Blog:
What has changed? Sources say that Nyusi was concerned about how Frelimo would treat him if he had to give up his positions in Frelimo as part of a bigger political compromise, and whether he and his family would face reprisals. He has apparently been reassured about this, judging by his openness to talks.
