Dhlakama puts conditions on meeting Chissano

Afonso Dhlakama, leader of Mozambique’s largest opposition party, the former rebel movement RENAMO, has refused to meet President Joaquim Chissano unless an agenda for their meeting is drawn up beforehand by “technical teams” appointed by the two men, Mozambican news reports said on Thursday. Last week, immediately before setting out for a tour of the western province of Tete, Chissano had invited Dhlakama for a meeting. He said he was available for a meeting on any date between 3 and 6 December, and was willing to discuss any matter of “national interest”.

But, interviewed by ‘Radio Mozambique’, Dhlakama refused to confirm or deny whether a meeting would indeed take place. He insisted that there must be an agreed agenda first.

Chissano told parliament on Thursday that he had been exchanging letters with Dhlakama regarding his invitation for talks to ease a worsening political situation in the southern African nation.