Renamo, the main Mozambican opposition party, today accused Frelimo, in power, of "making it impossible" to hold the first district elections in the country and calling into question the "spirit of national reconciliation and peace".

"The Frelimo party doesn't want district elections to be held," emphasized Venâncio Mondlane, a member of parliament and rapporteur for the Renamo caucus in the Assembly of the Republic.

Mondlane was speaking at a press conference after the Frelimo party on Wednesday rejected two bills considered by the largest opposition party to be "the basis" for holding the first district elections, scheduled for 2024 under the Constitution of the Republic.

Renamo's rapporteur also accused the ruling party of damaging the "spirit of national reconciliation and peace" advocated in the agreements between the country's two main political forces.

"As well as making the process of district elections unfeasible, Frelimo is also sending out a clear signal that it has no interest in maintaining the spirit that led to these agreements," said Venâncio Mondlane.

The MP also said that Renamo will continue to fight for district elections, through legal means.

Asked whether the disagreements over the ballot affect the process of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of Renamo's armed wing, the MP referred the answer to "the specific agreements" on this matter.

Venâncio Mondlane also accused the President of the Republic and Frelimo, Filipe Nyusi, of "vituperating the corpse" of the late Renamo leader, Afonso Dhlakama, since the holding of district elections is part of the agreements reached between the two leaders.

The Frelimo caucus rejected the inclusion of the bills on district assemblies and the institutional framework of the districts in the list of subjects for the plenary session that started on Wednesday.

The ruling party's position is in line with the challenge launched by Filipe Nyusi that the country should reflect on the viability of district elections in 2024. (Lusa)