The spokesman for Renamo, the largest opposition party in Mozambique, José Manteigas, assures that internal democracy prevails within his political formation, attested to by the full functioning of all the internal bodies.

The spokesman's reaction comes in response to the controversy created by the announcement of Ossufo Momade as Renamo's candidate for this year's presidential elections, even before the party congress has taken place, the body with the legitimacy to approve the candidate to be put forward by the party for the elections.

From then on, various criticisms arose, pointing to breaches of Renamo's statutes, accusing the party of a lack of internal democracy and President Ossufo Momade of being undemocratic.

"Yes, there is democracy in the party. Therefore, if some have an 'impulsive instinct' to run for office, [that] cannot be a reason to say that there is no democracy. In Renamo there is democracy, because in the party there is full respect for the statutes and the organs of the party," Manteiga said in a recent interview with DW.

"We have as a body the party president, who is functioning, the congress, which meets regularly, the National Council, the Political Commission. And all these bodies are functioning. Other examples are the General Secretariat, the provincial and district political delegations and so on, which are also functioning," said the Renamo spokesman.

Regarding the alleged delay in holding the National Council, the meeting that will decide the party congress, the forum that elects the party president and consequently the presidential candidate, Manteigas said that, in due course, the party will convene the National Council and the congress to establish all the necessary strategies to face the elections.

"There are no disagreements in Renamo. Perhaps there is an exacerbation of tempers among some militants. We, as a party, committed to Renamo's objectives, and who collaborate with and respect the figure of the party president, Ossufo Momade, who was democratically elected at the last congress, are all serene because we know the challenges the party faces," he stressed.

According to the source, there are no deadlines for the meetings in question, maintaining that until new bodies are elected, the bodies elected at the last congress are legally functioning. "Therefore, there is no illegality or legal vacuum," he maintains.

The source assured that no one is barred from presenting their candidacy for the party presidency. However, he reiterated that Ossufo Momade has the confidence within the party to continue leading the political formation.

"All Renamo members have the right to elect and have themselves elected. They are therefore free to do so. This is how we have proceeded when these moments arrive," he concluded.