The spokesman for the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) party, Ismael Nhacucue, says that the municipality of Quelimane, in Zambezia, was once better governed, unlike today, when it is run by Renamo.

The MDM was in charge of Quelimane's municipal administration with Manuel de Araújo as mayor (2011/13 and 2013/18). However, it lost the city to Renamo, but the mayor remained.

According to the MDM spokesman, the presence of the same mayor has done nothing to improve municipal management.

"Today's management in the city of Quelimane is different from that of a few years ago when it was governed by the MDM, although the president is the same."

He said that the difference between MDM and Renamo governance lies in the party leadership's ability to influence processes.

"There was participatory and inclusive management," he noted, stressing that this was the case when the late Davis Simango presided over the party, now under the leadership of his brother Lutero Simango.

He highlighted the party's support in solving specific problems in both Nampula and Quelimane. He said that the current mayors of these cities don't have the courage to take on MDM's support.

"If you ask the mayor of Quelimane about the first garbage cans he received, he'll tell you who gave them to him. The party has always been at the forefront, it has always been the driving force behind the management processes in the municipalities where the MDM has governed," he said.

He was speaking in an interview with Radio Mozambique, broadcast on Wednesday (17).