Frelimo took over the Peace Day celebrations and the opposition parties were virtually invisible. Peace Day marks the signing of the peace accord between Renamo and the Frelimo government on 4 October 1992.
Chemba, Sofala, District Administrator Admira Filimone took advantage of the official Peace Day ceremonies to campaign for Frelimo. “The government of Filipe Nyusi will continue to work to ensure security and tranquility,” said Filimone to the population. No opposition party attended the event. “Renamo was not invited,” said Féliz Simoco, Renamo Head of Mobilization in the district.
In Morrumbala district, Zambézia, Frelimo members and supporters flooded Heroes’ Square with party t-shirts and caps. No opposition party was on site, our correspondents report. “We are not invited to participate in the Peace Day ceremonies,” Renamo’s representative in Neves de Brito told the Bulletin.
In Cheringoma district, Sofala, the Peace Day ceremonies were conducted by the district administrator, who at the time was dressed in a Frelimo T-shirt and cap. No opposition members were present at the venue.
In Gondola District, Manica, District Permanent Secretary Luís Nobre conducted the official Peace Day ceremonies and asked those present to vote for Frelimo. “We will vote for Frelimo because it is a peace party,” said Nobre. Opposition parties did not attend the event, our correspondents report. Renamo district spokesman Edson Mapsanganhe told the newsletter that the party was not present at the peace celebrations due to preparations for the reception of its presidential candidate, Ossufo Momade. Mapsanganhe said, Gondola goes through difficult days. “Here in Gondola there is no peace, there is movement of military personnel everywhere, attacks by men we do not know,” said the delegate.
In the Macate district of Manica, MDM preferred to campaign rather than attend Peace Day celebrations.
In Mecanhelas district, Niassa, district administrator Calisto Mussa campaigned for Frelimo during the celebration of Peace Day. “Frelimo and Nyusi are the right party and candidate,” Mussa told the population. At the time, Frelimo members and supporters flocked to the heroes’ square dressed in party T-shirts, capulanas and caps.
In Nangade, Cabo Delgado, Frelimo Secretary Salimo Nassoro told people during the Peace Day celebration to vote for Frelimo and its candidate on 15 October. On the occasion, there were dancers from Nangade primary school wearing Frelimo capulanas.
In Nangade and Mecanhelas, Renamo and MDM said they did not participate in the ceremony because they were not invited to do so.
