“Everything will depend on the members’ decision. I was elected, you clearly saw what happened in Alto Molócue [central Mozambique, in 2024], I was elected. And I have said that at the next congress I will not run, I will leave it to the young people so that they can continue with this ship,” said Ossufo Momade, questioned by journalists about his leadership shortly after his arrival in Nampula, in northern Mozambique, where the party’s national council will be held.
Ossufo Momade, 64, took over the presidency of Renamo in January 2019, following the death of Afonso Dhlakama (1953-2018), and was re-elected to the position at the congress held in May 2024 for a new five-year term of office, in a process that was strongly contested internally.
However, a wave of opposition to his leadership has been growing, with former guerrilla fighters closing headquarters and delegations since Renamo lost its status as the second most voted political force in the general elections of 9 October 2024, going from 60 MPs in the 2019 legislative elections to 28.
The Renamo leader is also accused of alleged “mismanagement,” non-payment of pensions and subsidies, and “total incompetence” in the face of the crisis in the party. Asked about the crisis and division within the party, Momade played down the situation, saying he is not concerned and that the agenda is to “unite the family.”
“This is normal, even in other parties there are these kinds of problems, but we are not concerned about that, our agenda is unique, to unite the family and move forward to victory,” said the Renamo leader.
The political party has scheduled its first national council meeting for Thursday, an event that is taking place six months after the previous postponement, with Ossufo Momade stating that it will be a day of “celebration” and “several decisions” for the good of Renamo.
“It is a national council that will make several decisions for the good of our party and the good of the country (…). This meeting will make several decisions and we will ask everyone who is part of Renamo to embrace this party,” said the politician.
Ossufo Momade also stated that Renamo “is strong,” judging by the “sea of people” who welcomed him in Nampula for the national council, which will also discuss the party’s internal political situation.
Renamo announced that the first National Council of 2025 – statutorily it must organise two per year – would be held on 7 and 8 March, but this was later postponed, with no new date set. Renamo’s leadership has already recognised the obligation to hold two national councils per year, but states that it is not mandatory for them to take place in different semesters.
Ossufo Momade was a presidential candidate in the October 2024 elections, obtaining 6% of the votes, the worst result for a candidate supported by Renamo, which until those elections had been the main opposition force in Mozambique since the first elections in 1994.
Platform with Lusa
