The meeting between Marcelo and Daniel Francisco Chapo, during the pre-election campaign, can be interpreted as a “support” from the Portuguese head of state.
Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, accused Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Tuesday of “involvement” in Frelimo’s pre-campaign for having met with the ruling party’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo. “Renamo, surprised, expresses its discontent with this event and regrets the participation of the Portuguese president in the pre-campaign, hoping for better consideration,” the statement reads.
The Renamo party says it was “surprised by the meeting between the President of the Portuguese Republic (…) and the Frelimo candidate for the presidential elections in October” next, Daniel Francisco Chapo.”
The meeting, which took place during the pre-election campaign, could be interpreted as a “support” by the Portuguese head of state, in full force, for the presidential candidate of the Frelimo party and also secretary general of this political force, according to the protest note.
Renamo claims to be faithful to the universal principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, committing to maintaining close relations of cooperation and friendship with the “sister country” Portugal.
The Frelimo candidate for the presidential elections on October 9, stressed that on Thursday, the first day of his stay in Portugal, he was received by the president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
In recent weeks, Daniel Chapo, who is also interim secretary general of Frelimo, has been making introductory visits abroad.
On June 26, El Chapo was received by the President of Angola, João Lourençoalso president of the MPLA, with whom he discussed aspects related to the development of Angola and Mozambique and cooperation between both countries, and from whom he also received “a guarantee of spiritual and moral support.”
Renamo supports Ossufo Momade in his candidacy for the presidential elections on October 11. The presidential elections will be held simultaneously with the legislative elections and the elections for governors and provincial assemblies.
The current president of Mozambique and Frelimo, Filipe Nyusi is constitutionally barred from running for office again as he is currently serving his second term as head of state.after being elected in 2015 and 2019.
Source: Observadora
