Mozambique's main opposition leader Venancio Mondlan has told the BBC he is ready to serve in government if President Daniel Chapo meets his demands to end the political crisis that has hit the country after disputed elections.
Chapo said he had set up a team to “consider” whether his rival should be invited to join a new “inclusive” government.
The two men outlined their positions in separate interviews with the BBC, giving the impression they were ready for a rapprochement after the deaths of around 300 people in post-election riots.
Mondlane dismissed his defeat in the October election, saying the result was rigged – something Chapo denied.
The Supreme Court of Mozambique declared Chapo the winner with 65% of the vote to Mondlan's 24%.
Chapo was the candidate of the ruling Frelimo party as his predecessor, Filipe Nyusi, had to step down after two terms in office.
Chapo was officially sworn in as president on January 15, about a week after Mondlan held his own inauguration to declare himself “the people's president”.
Mondlane told the BBC that Chapo was “forced” on the nation and was “a president of the defense forces”.
Mondlane said he had nevertheless decided to suspend protests for the first 100 days of his opponent's term, provided he did the following:
- unconditional release of around 5,000 people detained for participating in demonstrations against the election result
- paid financial compensation to the families of people killed by the police during the protests and
- offer free treatment to about 200 people injured by the police.
Mondlin said that if Chapo agreed to it, he would “open a window” for negotiations or otherwise call on his supporters to renew the protests.
Asked if he was ready to work in Chapo's government, Mondlan replied: “Yes, if he has a real interest in working with me. He has a chance to invite me to the table for dialogue.”
In his BBC interview, Chapo said he wanted to “govern in an inclusive way” and introduce reforms to address concerns about electoral law, human rights and freedom of expression.
He said talks were currently underway with opposition parties represented in the new parliament and would later be expanded to include “all segments of society”.
Chapo added that he wants to form a government that is “open to all Mozambicans” but wants to stress that “the profile of the people is very important”.
Asked if he thought Mondlan was qualified to serve in government, Chapo said: “It would depend… because there is a team that is currently considering that the profile of the people, their competencies, their meritocracy, patriotism – all these preconditions, for which I imply.
“If the team comes to the conclusion that these people have the right profile, they will be part of the government. Those who do not have that profile will not participate.”
Chapo, 47, was chosen by Frelimo, which has been in power since independence 49 years ago, as its candidate to rally young voters affected by high unemployment and tired of the party's decade-long rule.
He told the BBC he wanted both local and foreign investment to increase in Mozambique to make the economy “more dynamic”.
This will help create jobs for young people so they can “build their homes, start their families and stabilize their lives”.
The 50-year-old Mondlane saw himself as a strong support among young people after rallying them during the election campaign with the slogan “Save Mozambique – this country is ours”.
He contested the election as an independent candidate after breaking away from the main opposition Renamo party.
A small party that supported his candidacy won several seats in parliament in the election.