MOZAMBIQUE - RENAMO LEADER AFONSO DHLAKAMA VOTES IN ELECTION AFTER REVERSING HIS DECISION TO BOYCOTT POLL

Record ID: 328563

  • Title: MOZAMBIQUE - RENAMO LEADER AFONSO DHLAKAMA VOTES IN ELECTION AFTER REVERSING HIS DECISION TO BOYCOTT POLL
  • Date: 28th October 1994
  • Summary: MAPUTO AND BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE (OCTOBER 28, 1994) (AGENCY -- ACCESS ALL) MAPUTO 1. GV EXT. APARTMENT WHERE SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI MEETS MOZAMBIQUE'S RENAMO OPPOSITION LEADER AFONSO DHLAKAMA 0.03 2. MCU DHLAKAMA SPEAKING ABOUT ELECTION (ENGLISH) 0.14 3. MCU MBEKI SPEAKING ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT VOTE IS FAIR (ENGLISH) 0.33 4. HAS,LV CAR BRINGING DHLAKAMA TO POLLING BOOTH 0.36 5. HAS,SV/ZOOM IN/OUT DHLAKAMA RECEIVES BALLOT/ 0.46 6. HAS,SV JOURNALISTS 0.50 6. HAS,SV/CU/ZOOM OUT DHLAKAMA PUTS BALLOT IN BOX (3 SHOTS) 1.04 7. CU/CRANE UP: DHLAKAMA SHOWS FINGER DIPPED IN INK FOR VOTING (2 SHOTS) 1.11 8. SV PHOTOGRAPHERS 1.13 9. SV DHLAKAMA WAVES TO CROWD/HAS,SV LEAVES STATION IN MOTORCADE (2 SHOTS) 1.25 10. SV MBEKI (ON LEFT IN DARK SUIT) AND MOZAMBIQUE PRESIDENT JOAQUIM CHISSANO (RIGHT, LIGHT-COLOURED SUIT) SHAKE HANDS 1.29 11. SV CHISSANO SAYING THAT THE PARTICIPATION OF RENAMO IN THE ELECTION IS WHAT HE WANTED; THAT IT IS A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE EFFORTS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (ENGLISH) 1.46 12. SV/PAN MOTORCADE LEAVES/SLV SOLDIERS IN GROUNDS (3 SHOTS) 2.04 BEIRA 13. HAS,GV/SV VOTERS WAIT OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (2 SHOTS) 2.11 14. HAS,GV EXT OF POLLING STATION 2.13 TRANSCRIPT OF SEQUENCE 2: DHLAKAMA:"NOW WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WE ARE VERY HAPPY AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ACCEPT TO CONSIDER OUR CONCERN." TRANSCRIPT OF SEQUENCE 3: MBEKI "THE PROCESS IS ON COURSE THERE ARE VARIOUS MATTERS THAT THE PRESIDENT BRIEFED US ABOUT WHICH HAD LED TO THE EARLIER DECISION, NOT TO PARTICIPATE - AND HAS HE HAS SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE MATTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ATTENDED TO." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 12th November 1994 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MAPUTO AND BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE
  • City:
  • Country: AFRICA Mozambique
  • Reuters ID: LVABR6BDNSD4UJXX4LJBQ56KU1YD
  • Story Text: Mozambique's opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama voted on Friday (October 28) in the country's first multi-party elections after ending a poll boycott that sent shock waves through southern Africa.

    Dhlakama voted in a school in the capital, Maputo.

    The Renamo leader said that a key reason for his decision to end the boycott was because international envoys had given assurances that they would monitor the election.

    "I feel comfortable and very happy that the international community has considered our concerns," he said.

    South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki had flown to Maputo to emphasise the concern of regional leaders for a quick solution to the crisis. He said that the international community has made a commitment to follow up Renamo's concerns.

    Mozambicans and African leaders had feared the Renamo boycott --which Dhlakama announced on Thursday (October 27) -- could lead to a renewal of the devastating 16-year civil war which ended with a peace accord between Renamo and President Joaquim Chissano's ruling Frelimo party two years ago.

    Chissano welcomed Dhlakama's decision to vote in the election.

    "This is what all of us wanted," he said. "This is a successful outcome of the efforts made by all of us -- the international community and particularly President (Nelson) Mandela and Vice President Mbeki." The independent National Electoral Commission (CNE) extended the election, which began on Thursday, by one day through Saturday.


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