Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic and also president of the Frelimo party, says it is strange that the debate on the incompatibility of the positions of Head of State and party president is being raised now.

Meanwhile, in a quote from the newspaper "O Pais", Nyusi says he is calm and open to complying with the rules that are defined in the statutes, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic.

"I have the necessary peace of mind, because it's always been like this. President Samora, President Chissano, President Guebuza and some of the Constitution coincided with other Presidents and I don't know why it's only now with me," he said, as quoted by the newspaper.

He went on to say that "but that's not the problem and it's not a problem of saying I want to. The intellectuals know how it's done. You just have to go to the law, see if the law sets it up for the party statutes."

The issue was raised a few days ago by the usual suspect, Óscar Monteiro, who believes that the President of the Republic should not be party president at the same time, and cites article 148 of the Constitution of the Republic, which states: "The President of the Republic may not, except in the cases expressly provided for in the Constitution, exercise any other public function or, under any circumstances, perform any private function."

However, the Frelimo president doesn't dismiss the debate, but he is surprised at the timing.

"It's good that they're debating, but it's strange when they debate things and, above all, when some people have had the chance to work on these documents themselves and have left them undone."

Filipe Nyusi was speaking this Wednesday in Nampula after a party function.

Either President of the Republic or Party President. Not both at the same time - Óscar Monteiro argues