Maputo — The former rebel movement Renamo, now the main opposition party in Mozambique, is facing a struggle among its members over the election of the party's delegate in the northern province of Nampula, reports Monday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".

The paper claims that this is an ethnic struggle. One Renamo faction wants to replace the current delegate Mario Mauquissinze, a member of the Macua ethnic group, with Lucia Afate, former chairperson of the Renamo Women's League, a deputy in the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, and a member of the Ndau ethnic group. Most of the population of Nampula are Makua speakers.

The paper claims that a month ago a meeting was held to elect a new delegate, chaired by a member of the Renamo National Council, sent from Maputo. Most of the participants wanted Julia Silvestre, Renamo secretary for mobilization in Nampula city, to become the new provincial delegate - but this was categorically rejected by what "Noticias" calls "the ndau wing".

After bitter verbal exchanges, it was decided to hold another meeting in two months time, but this time attended by all Renamo ;parliamentary deputies from Nampula. The paper claims that they will swing the meeting in favour of Afate, who supposedly has the backing of Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama.

Renamo's spokesperson in Nampula, Arnaldo Chalaua, acknowledged that a dispute exists. He said there were "small groups containing people of bad faith" inside Renamo, who want to see the party plunged into crisis, at a time when the country is preparing for municipal, provincial and general elections.

He added that Renamo is planning to open in Nampula an organization department to try and put an end to internal disagreements. "A number of other bodies have been created, and the names of those who will lead them will soon be announced", he said.

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