Renamo spokesman José Manteigas denied allegations that 12 million meticais belonging to the party had been embezzled, saying they were made by a registered person who is no longer part of the Renamo ranks.

Meanwhile, it is known that Renamo is managing a case of embezzlement of funds allocated to the Office of the Party President, which even led to the resignation of the respective manager.

It was Sandura Ambrósio, an alternate member of Renamo's National Council, who denounced the alleged embezzlement during a press conference in which he demanded that the case be investigated.

"We are the guarantors of oversight, but at the same time we are the ones who embezzle the money that would be used for the party's activities; this case has to be investigated," said Ambrósio, quoted by VOA.

The reaction was not long in coming. José Manteigas, also at a press conference, said that Sandura Ambrósio is no longer a member of Renamo, adding that he is a registered criminal who was recently serving a sentence for his involvement in criminal acts that undermine the security of the state and its citizens.

He said that "this failed and amateur politician has neither the right nor the legitimacy to meddle in Renamo's internal life, and even less to question decisions taken sovereignly by the respective and competent bodies".

Meanwhile, journalist and political analyst Alexandre Chiúre said he was aware of the embezzlement of at least 11 of the 72 million meticais allocated to opposition leader and Renamo president Ossufo Momade, an amount that the party has yet to justify to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.