Renamo President Ossufo Momade is distancing himself from statements made by spokesman José Manteigas about him being the only candidate to succeed himself as party leader.

Speaking in an interview with STV on Wednesday, Ossufo Momade said there had not yet been a party council to decide who would be the party's next candidate and possible contender for the October presidential elections.

The President of Renamo said that it was not his directive for the recent pronouncements by the party's spokesman, José Manteigas, about the next leadership of Renamo, with Ossufo Momade himself as the head of the list.

"He is a spokesman and, knowing that there is a President, with all the energy to continue to be one, he presented his own thoughts. At no time did I order him to do that. That's his responsibility. I have not yet presented myself as a candidate," he said.

However, when asked if he intends to run for his own succession, he said it was too early to say, but that "when the time comes, you'll be able to follow up".

This reservation, as I said, is to avoid self-inclusion on the list of those who have already presented themselves, without respecting the party's rules for doing so.

Among the well-known names with presidential ambitions in Renamo is Venâncio Mondlane who, after announcing his candidacy, was removed from his position as national and private political advisor to Ossufo Momade, as well as Rapporteur of the party's caucus in the Assembly of the Republic.

With regard to Venâncio Mondlane's hasty candidacy and outside Renamo's rules, the party president called it the act of someone whose psychic conditions are distorted.

"We have a principle. And when a lot of people like Venâncio turn up to create disturbances within the party, they try to victimize themselves," he said, after stating that, despite his woes, "he is still a member of Renamo".

Later, Ossufo Momade said: "I never wanted to talk about Venâncio, about that. I behave myself, I'm civilized. I don't like chasing crazy people, because if I do, I'm crazy too."

In the view of the President of Renamo, it is inconceivable that "a son" should complain to the public "about his father".

He took the opportunity to outline the profile of a presidential candidate to lead the Renamo party.

"To be president of a party like Renamo you have to be mature, responsible for yourself and those you intend to lead," he said.