Botswana escorts Dhlakama from bush hideout?
Mbongeni Mguni | Wednesday September 3, 2014 16:12
Yesterday, media in the east African country was awash with reports that diplomatic representatives from Botswana, the United States, Portugal and Italy would provide international safety assurances for Dhlakama who has been hiding in the leafy Gorogonsa region since late last year.
Several media houses, including AFP, also quoted Renamo – Dhlakama’s party – as saying the former rebel leader had requested international cover as he emerges from hiding to journey to Maputo.
On Friday, Dhlakama intends to meet with current president, Armando Guebuza, hold peace talks and sign his name on the race for the presidential elections which are scheduled for October 15.
“The international community will guarantee Dhlakama’s safety while he travels to Maputo,” Renamo Member of Parliament Ivone Soares was quoted as saying.
““I will go with them there, we will fetch the president and bring him back here.”
After a bitter 17-year civil war between Renamo and Guebuza’s Frelimo party, the two parties brokered peace which was ended by Dhlakama’s returning to rebel warfare in the last two years.
Although the main civil war was fought from 1977 until democratic elections in 1994, insurgency activities have intensified in the last year, with Dhlakama fleeing to a hideout after government forces routed his positions.
Frelimo has ruled Mozambique since Independence in 1975 and Dhlakama has lost all his bids at snatching the presidency since first participating in 1994.
Yesterday, Botswana’s High Commissioner to Mozambique, Thuso Ramodimoosi denied that the country had been requested to escort Dhlakama out of his hideout.
“We are not part of that and we have not been invited to help,” he told Mmegi from Maputo.
“There will be a role for Botswana but it cannot be publicised at the moment. It has not been agreed even as we speak and it is under discussion.
“Once that has been finalised, there will be a press statement about it.”
Ramodimoosi said he expected Dhlakama’s participation to enhance the fairness of the upcoming polls and the democratic process. “We see it as good for democracy,” he said.
About a million people died in fighting and from starvation during Mozambique’s civil war, with five million civilians displaced and many more rendered amputees by landmines which continue to take lives even today.