Mozambique opposition leader open to serving in rival's government

Mozambique's main absorption person Venâncio Mondlane has told the BBC helium is prepared to service successful the authorities if President Daniel Chapo meets his demands to extremity the governmental situation that has deed the state pursuing disputed elections.

Chapo said helium had acceptable up a squad that was "considering" whether his rival should beryllium invited to articulation a caller "inclusive" government.

The 2 men outlined their positions successful abstracted interviews with the BBC, giving the content that they were unfastened to rapprochement aft the deaths of astir 300 radical successful post-election unrest.

Mondlane rejected his decision successful October's election, saying the effect was rigged - thing that Chapo denied.

Mozambique's highest tribunal declared Chapo the victor with 65% of the ballot to Mondlane's 24%.

Chapo was the campaigner of the ruling Frelimo party, arsenic his predecessor, Filipe Nyusi, had to measurement down aft serving 2 presumption successful office.

Chapo was officially sworn successful arsenic president connected 15 January, astir a week aft Mondlane held his ain inauguration to state himself the "people's president".

Mondlane told the BBC that Chapo was "forced" connected the nation, and was the "president of the defence force".

Mondlane said that helium had, nevertheless, decided to suspend protests for the archetypal 100 days of his rival's word connected information helium did the following:

• unconditionally merchandise astir 5,000 radical detained for participating successful demonstrations against the predetermination result
• pay fiscal compensation to the families of radical killed by constabulary during the protests and
• offer escaped aesculapian attraction for astir 200 radical injured by the police.

Mondlane said that if Chapo agreed to this, helium would "open a window" for negotiations oregon other helium would telephone connected his supporters to renew protests.

Asked whether helium was prepared to enactment successful Chapo's government, Mondlane replied: "Yes, if helium has a genuine involvement to enactment with me. He's got a accidental to invitation maine to the array of dialogue."

In his interrogation with the BBC, Chapo said helium wanted to "govern successful an inclusive way", and to present reforms to code concerns astir the electoral law, quality rights and state of expression.

He said talks were presently taking spot with absorption parties represented successful the caller parliament, and they would aboriginal beryllium widened to see "all segments of society".

Chapo added that helium wanted to signifier a authorities that was "open to each Mozambicans", but helium wanted to accent that "the illustration of the radical is precise important".

Asked whether helium believed Mondlane qualified to service successful government, Chapo replied: "It volition depend... due to the fact that determination is simply a squad that is close present considering that, connected the illustration of the people, their competencies, their meritocracy, the patriotism - each these pre-requisites that I'm alluding to.

"If the squad reaches the decision that these radical person the close profile, they volition beryllium portion of the government. Those who bash not person that illustration volition not instrumentality part."

Aged 47, Chapo was chosen by Frelimo, which has been successful powerfulness since independency 49 years ago, arsenic its campaigner to rally young voters affected by precocious unemployment, and fed up with the party's decades-long rule.

• Mozambique astatine a crossroads arsenic caller president sworn in

He told the BBC that helium wanted some section and overseas concern to summation successful Mozambique successful bid to marque the system "more dynamic".

This would assistance make jobs for young radical truthful that they could "build their homes, found their families and stabilize their lives".

Mondlane, 50, was seen to person sizeable enactment among young radical aft helium rallied them during the predetermination run with the slogan "Save Mozambique - this state is ours".

He contested the canvass arsenic an autarkic aft breaking distant from the main absorption Renamo party.

A tiny enactment that backed his candidacy won a fewer parliamentary seats successful the election.