The UN Secretary General's envoy to Mozambique told Lusa yesterday that the government has the money to pay pensions to Renamo guerrillas and that the demobilization process will be concluded "in the next few months".

"I think the demobilization process will be completed in the next few months. It's clear that what was creating a problem between the government and Renamo was the issue of pensions, because for Renamo it's a very important issue and also important for the sustainability of the peace process," said Mirko Manzoni in New York.

"Financing is a subject that seems to be a bit technical. The financing of pensions has been voted on, the Mozambican government has the money to pay pensions. Of course, the subject of pensions is not easy. It's not easy in my country either, which is Switzerland. Pensions, in the case of Mozambique, are going to be paid as they are to all combatants.

Mozambique's budget is very much based on debt, because Mozambique doesn't have the capacity to finance everything and the debt is financed through local banks," added António Guterres' personal envoy.

It is known that the payment of pensions has been the main dispute between the Mozambican government and Renamo in the context of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process of the guerrillas from the main opposition party.

It should also be noted that last week Mozambique's Council of Ministers approved the payment of pensions to former guerrillas from Renamo, the main opposition party.