The President of the Youth League of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), Ivan Mazanga, has proposed holding an "enlarged" National Council in 2026 to elect a new candidate for the 2029 presidential elections.

According to Mazanga, the choice of a replacement for Ossufo Momade, the party's current president, in the presidential race next year could give him time to relaunch the party's image among the masses.

"The Youth League proposes to this National Council another session of the extended National Council until the first quarter of 2026, with the aim of electing a candidate for the 2029 presidential elections. This would allow this individual, with enough time, to present himself to the people and relaunch RENAMO's image," he said.

He considered the proposal to be timely, given that the party is facing a "shortage of resources" and its main political opponents are in an apparent election campaign.

Mazanga also proposed holding an Extraordinary Party Congress to make the decisions "without wanting to reduce the powers of the National Council".

Ossufo Momade says he will only leave the Renamo presidency if the National Council tells him to

On the other hand, he called for a revision of the party's statutes to bring them into line with the reality of democracy and the political maturity of the Mozambican people.

RENAMO Youth deplored the "historic" reduction in seats in the Assembly of the Republic and called for the closure of the party's offices.