Questions continue over attacks on Dhlakama

Following the raid on his house on 9 October, the morning after he arrived in Beira, Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama has again disappeared. But debate continues about who was behind the raid, which disarmed his guards, and the two earlier attacks near Chimoio on Dhlakama's motorcade. Savana in an extensive report in its issue Friday (23 October) blames "a bellicose wing of Frelimo" intending to block President Filipe Nyusi's "more generous" approach toward Dhlakama. It says that radical wing include police commander Jorge Khalau, former head of General Staff Lagos Lidimo, current Defence Minister Atanasio Mtumuke, and Alberto Mondlane who is governor of Manica where the two attacks took place and was Interior Minister under President Armando Guebuza. Savana is cautious about the role of Guebuza but it cites Africa Confidential which blames the "Guebuza wing" of Frelimo. Guebuza is currently away in Tanzania, heading the African Union election observer mission.
Dhlakama did unexpectedly well with 37% of the vote in 15 October 2014 presidential elections and has attracted large crowds to rallies in the centre and north of the county. Nyusi has offered renewed talks with Dhlakama and Savana reports that Dhlakama told the mediators who came to he house in Beira on 9 October to tell Nyusi that he still wanted such talks. Bishop Dinis Sengulane did brief Nyusi four days later, Savana says, while also reporting distrust in Renamo with some of the mediators who they claim are trying to push Renamo to replace Dhlakama.Savana points to three reasons for the attacks on the motorcade and house. First is simply to reduce Dhlakama's freedom of movement and stop him addressing rallies. Second to build on his perhaps justified fears for his safety and push him to retreat again to the bush and return to his virtual invisibility of 2013. But third, and perhaps most important, is to put pressure on Nyusi to stop making concessions.Putting pressure on the Renamo president will also have the effect of making Dhlakama take a harder line in negotiations, making it more difficult for Nyusi. Dhlakama does not trust Frelimo; he believes he won all five presidential elections and believes that Frelimo wants to kill him, which will only be reinforced by the serious of attacks.