For the first time in many months Mozambican President Armando Guebuza and Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the country's main opposition party, the former rebel movement Renamo, have spoken - in the clinic where Dhlakama is hospitalised, after suffering injuries in a traffic accident.
The accident occurred at about 23.30 on Sunday night on Eduardo Mondlane Avenue in central Maputo. At a crossroads, another vehicle slammed into Dhlakama's car.
The police blame the other vehicle, saying that it was travelling at high speed and drove through a red traffic light.
Dhlakama was admitted to the Cruz Azul private clinic at about 01.00 on Monday morning. His driver was seriously injured and is currently under intensive care in Maputo Central Hospital.
After his brief visit to the clinic Guebuza told reporters, "I was concerned because something happened to the leader of the opposition, who is also a member of the Council of State" (this is a body that advises the President, and Dhlakama has a seat on it, in his capacity as runner-up in the 2004 presidential election).
Guebuza said Dhlakama had told him he was feeling better, and that doctors confirmed that the Renamo leader was in no danger.
The president said he had told Dhlakama "You need to get up quickly and continue working".
On this there seems no disagreement between the two men.
Renamo national spokesman Fernando Mazanga told reporters that Dhlakama was anxious to be discharged from the clinic, and go back to his normal political duties. Mazanga thought the doctors were being "over-cautious" in keeping Dhlakama under observation.
SOURCE: AIM
