Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, has asked the international community to help overcome the disagreement with the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, over the holding of the first district elections in 2024.

Politicians and academics say that Renamo's concern about this issue is understandable, but there is room for the matter to be resolved among Mozambicans.

The appeal was made by Renamo's spokesman, José Manteigas, in the face of the Head of State's reiteration that deep reflection is needed on the viability of district elections, which means that an internal solution that would allow district elections to be held is not possible.

Speaking to VOA, Manteigas emphasized that "we want the international community to take a stand in order to help Mozambique honour its national commitments, which include respect for the Constitution of the Republic".

For his part, Edilson Munguambe, from Frelimo, says he doesn't understand Renamo's difficulty in understanding the President of the Republic's proposal for reflection, without which it will be difficult to implement decentralized governance bodies at district level because it is necessary to delve into aspects of a political, economic and legal nature.

On an academic level, jurist and university lecturer Egídio Plácido believes that although district elections are the result of a constitutional command, the international community cannot always be solving problems for Mozambicans.

He adds that Renamo is right to demand that district elections be held, but to involve the international community in this process "seems to me to be another serious mistake".

Dércio Rodrigues, spokesman for the New Democracy Party, criticizes the fact that people continue to think that this country is just Frelimo and Renamo, when there is a very broad party representation.

"Since the Rome Agreement, a culture of exclusion has been cultivated," he says.
Rodrigues argues that in the current scenario, there is a need for Renamo to impose itself as an opposition political party, especially at the level of the Assembly of the Republic, so that legislation on district elections can be approved.

For his part, Ismael Nhancucue, from the MDM, also in the opposition, rails against those who, not being in the government, support a possible postponement of the district elections.

"People have never been in government, but they say that the government has no money for the district elections, this is a political issue that must be resolved politically," Nhancucue argues.

The Center for Public Integrity (CIP) recently held a debate in Maputo on the first district elections in Mozambique, which have been a matter of disagreement between the President of the Republic and the opposition.