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MAPUTO. — Mozambique’s main opposition party Renamo confirmed on Monday that its senior member, the spokesperson of the party’s leader, Antonio Muchanga, has been detained by the Frelimo-led government in Maputo. The state news agency AIM reported that Muchanga was arrested after leaving a meeting of the Council of State on Monday.

Speaking at a Press conference soon after the arrest, Manuel Nole, a Renamo member and also member of the State Council said he was surprised to see that political tension, the main reason for the meeting was not discussed in detail compared to the immunity status of Muchanga.

Renamo said the Attorney-General of the Republic requested the State Council to withdraw the immunity status of its member, Muchanga, alleging that he has been promoting violence through the party’s statements to the media.

“The party is calm and will deal with it. The only thing we regret is that it will only deteriorate the current political scenario,” said Nole.
According to Saimone Macuiana, head of the Renamo delegation with the government talks, Muchanga was arrested at the presidential complex where the Council of State met.

Saimone Macuiana was speaking moments after the end of the 63rd round of dialogue between the Frelimo-led government and Renamo, adding that it could mean a step back in the talking process.

Members of the Council of State are awarded immunity from prosecution, and the local news sheet Canalmoz suggested that the council had withdrawn that privilege from Muchanga.

The government has not issued a comment over the arrest.
Muchanga, the spokesperson for Afonso Dhlakama who has been giving orders to the former rebel movement since 1979, has issued a series of statements in the capital, on behalf of Dhlakama, including the temporary ceasefire from Renamo in early May and the suspension of the ceasefire in June.

Dhlakama has disappeared from public life since he and his military base were attacked in the Gorongosa district of the central Sofala province in October last year.

Since then, it is believed that Dhlakama has been hiding in the bush in Gorongosa district, central Sofala province, communicating with most of his members through the phone.

Dhlakama has been asking for guarantees for his own safety, in order to carry out campaign activities for the October presidential elections, saying that the government forces in the central region are waiting to arrest him as soon as he comes out.

The government has stated that the forces were there to protect the safety of people and cars travelling on the north-south highway.
The detention of Muchanga clouds the peace process and the current ongoing dialogue, with members from Renamo worrying about the safety of Dhlakama.

“When government authorities say that our party leader should come to the capital for talks with the president, we now see what can happen to him if he comes,” said Nole.

Continuous conflicts between the government security forces and the gunmen of Renamo have been reported since last year, leaving dozens dead and injured.

The two sides resumed their talks earlier this year, aiming to bring peace to the south African country particularly in the central region.
Mozambique will hold its fifth general elections on October 15 to elect its fourth president since its independence in 1975. — Xinhua.