INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS MEET WITH JOINT COMMISSION

International mediators participating in the dialogue between the Mozambican government and the opposition party Renamo met in Maputo on Wednesday afternoon with the Joint Commission set up to prepare for a meeting between President Filipe Nyusi and opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama.The Joint Commission is composed of six representatives from the government and six from Renamo.

The government team consists of: former Security Minister Jacinto Veloso; former Justice Minister Benvinda Levi; former Minister of State Administration Alfredo Gamito; parliamentary deputy and former chief of staff of the armed forces, Antonio Hama Thai; the spokesperson for the parliamentary group of the ruling Frelimo Party, Edmundo Galiza-Matos Junior; and Alves Muteka, who is an official in the President’s office.

Renamo’s representatives are Jeremias Pondeca, a former parliamentary deputy; Leovigildo Buanacasso, the unsuccessful Renamo candidate for mayor of the northern city of Cuamba in a municipal by-election of 2014; Maria Joaquina Inacio, who is a former member of the National Elections Commission (CNE); Jose Manteigas; Andre Magibire; and Eduardo Namburete. The latter three are all parliamentary deputies.Renamo invited the European Union, the Catholic Church, and South African President Jacob Zuma to mediate, whilst the government invited the Global Leadership Foundation (represented by former President of Botswana, Ketumile Masire), the Africa Governance Initiative and former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete.

Not all the mediators were present at the meeting and some have deputies.

However, the full list of mediators is: Ketumile Masire (Global Leadership Foundation); Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania); Ibrahim Msambaho (Tanzania); Angelo Romano (European Union); Mario Rafaelli (European Union); Sir Robin Christopher (Global Leadership Foundation); Jonathan Powell (Inter Mediate); Thanduyise Chiliza, Mandlenkosi Memela, and George Johannes (deputy representatives for South Africa); Edgar Peña Parra (Apostolic Nuncio to Mozambique); Joao Carlos Hatoa Nunes (secretary of the Mozambique Episcopal Conference); the Ambassador of the European Union; and the South African High Commissioner.

The former chief of staff of Downing Street during the government of Tony Blair, Jonathan Powell, will be representing his non-governmental organisation Inter Mediate. His invitation came via an introduction made by Africa Governance Initiative.Speaking at the end of the meeting, Jacinto Veloso said that he believed that the mediators could play a role in restoring peace to Mozambique. He stated that the Joint Commission accepts that the mediators only have one interest, which is to help the Commission to establish the high-level dialogue that will end the violence.Veloso explained that on Wednesday the mediators held separate meetings with the representatives of the government and Renamo. He revealed that another meeting will be held on Thursday to discuss the agenda.