NYUSI DENIES THAT HE IS EVADING DEBATE

The Presidential candidate of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party, Filipe Nyusi, has denied claims published by the right-wing weekly “Canal de Mocambique” that he does not wish to participate in a televised debate with the other two candidates, Afonso Dhlakama of the former rebel movement Renamo, and Daviz Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).

Nyusi on Wednesday that when “Canal de Mocambique” contacted him about a possible debate, he said he had not yet received any invitation, but those interested in a debate should contact his Election Office, which organises his day-to-day programme.Nyusi said he was surprised when “Canal de Mocambique” published, on its front page, the claim that he would not take part in any debate, because the organisers of his campaign argued against it.“This article, in which they say I don’t want to participate in a debate, was published after my reply telling them they should contact my office, which deals with the details of my campaign”, he said. In his meeting on Wednesday with students, academics and other higher education workers, Nyusi also said he had not received any invitation, not even from the Youth Parliament, which says it is trying to organise such a debate.Nyusi said he is not at all averse to debate, and since he was selected as the Frelimo candidate in March, he has done all in his power to present his vision on how to solve the country’s problems. Indeed, if he were not interested in debate, then he would not be in a university lecture theatre in a discussion with academics. Thus who accused him of avoiding debate were acting in bad faith, he said, “since I have already met with many of my fellow countrymen and I have debated with them openly and frankly about how I think I should govern the country if I am elected”. Nyusi said he had no reason to fear a debate “as long as it is organised in good faith and is not tendentious”. “I don’t owe anybody anything, and so I’m not afraid of anything”, he said. 

The Frelimo candidate for the presidential elections, Felipe Nyusi, continues to get unfounded excuses to escape the electoral debate with their opponents particular Dhlakama, Renamo, and Simango, the MDM. Rather than flee, Nyusi says that the debate is "suspect", without clarifying whether it is available for a television contest to three, according to the desire of his two opponents. In an interview with "Canalmoz" last Tuesday, Nyusi said everything depended on his election office. But on Wednesday told "Mediafax" that the debate can be "suspect." "Those people who think they need to hear my thoughts have called me. If you call me by another mousetrap, banana skins I will not go, "said Philip Nyusi the" Mediafax ". "If you call me to the University for a debate, I will, no problem," said Nyusi. "Anyone here heard that the Frelimo candidate does not accept the debate?" He said. But the fact is that the Youth Parliament of Mozambique invited all three presidential candidates in the October elections to participate in a televised debate, and has already received confirmations from Renamo and MDM, reports the organization's president. All the logistics are prepared, including the auditorium where the debate will be held as earned "Canalmoz" Solomon Muchanga, leader of the Youth Parliament.

The Youth Parliament argues that the debate is a democratic emergency, so that manifestos are publicly presented and questioned by properly organized citizens. The Youth Parliament, like most citizens, defends that Mozambican democracy already has enough energy to make a televised presidential debate age. Nyusi is the only candidate who walks fugitive. But public opinion also argues that, even in the absence of Nyusi, the debate should take place, and the desire of thousands of Mozambicans to see democracy fortify themselves can not be held hostage to Philip Nyusi.