The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a non-governmental organization, believes that the "millions of meticais from the State Budget (OE)" lead Ossufo Momade to want to keep the presidency of Renamo, the largest opposition party, in an election year.

At issue are the statements made by the spokesman for that political force, José Manteigas, who said last Wednesday that Renamo will bet on the current president for this year's presidential elections, despite criticism from segments demanding his resignation, accusing him of inertia, and without any decision being known from the party's organs or any congress being held.

In a publication released today, CIP states that "the battle to be president of Renamo is essentially due to the fact that the position of leader of the second most voted party has hundreds of millions of meticais associated with it". In addition, between 2021 and 2022, according to CIP, "Ossufo Momade and his cabinet received more than 100 million meticais, transferred from state funds".

"These perks justify the harsh reaction of Renamo's radical wing to the desire of Venâncio Mondlane and Manuel de Araújo to run for party president. It's the bait that Ossufo Momade took, which Afonso Dhlakama [1953 - 2018] avoided from 2015 until his death. For these perks, Ossufo Momade and his close allies will fight for the renewal of the position of Renamo president and, therefore, candidate for this year's elections. In 2022 alone, Ossufo Momade's office received 68 million meticais," the equivalent of 972,000 euros, points out the CIP publication.

In addition to the budget, Ossufo Momade, the CIP points out, has a series of "perks", such as remuneration, representation expenses, updated monthly allowances, state transport, a diplomatic passport, a special protection and security regime, first class travel and a reintegration allowance, falling under "the third highest salary category in the state structure, equivalent to the functions of vice-president of the Assembly of the Republic".

In this regard, the mayor of Quelimane, Zambézia province, Manuel de Araújo, considered that Renamo's spokesman had violated the statutes by announcing the current president, Ossufo Momade, as a presidential candidate, before the congress that was due to elect the party's leader this year.

Ossufo Momade has been accused of inaction in the face of alleged irregularities in the October local elections, allegedly in favor of the ruling party, and of negligence in the face of the situation of the party's recently demobilized guerrillas.