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The Peace Process in Mozambique
1984-1992
Dossier MZ-0772
4. Frelimo and the 12-Point Plan,
May-June 1989
At the beginning of this two-month period, the Party and the Government were still publicly refusing to countenance the idea of direct negotiations with the «armed bandits», and were using meetings with the citizenry to show that their position was widely supported among the population. In May, Marcelino dos Santos denounced reports on the US radio station Voice of America to the effect that he had sought US acceptance of a mediation role during a recent visit to North America; Fernando Ganhão of the Comissão Permanente of the Assembleia Popular argued that Renamo could not be considered a legitimate opposition force; and as late as 22 June, the Mozambican ambassador to Portugal, Daniel Magaia, was denying that there had been any contacts with the organisation.
Despite this formal position, in mid- to late-June a document [a ‘non-paper’] circulated in Maputo which, despite carrying no attribution, was recognised as a statement of a minimum set of Frelimo conditions for direct contact, similar to the line at the negotiations with the South Africans in Pretoria in October 1984. The two key points were that Renamo had to recognise the legitimacy of the Mozambican state and government; and give up its weapons. It was circulated in the first instance to the embassies or representatives of the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and South Africa, as well as Portugal, but was soon leaked to journalists and others. This text, the «12-point plan», existed in both Portuguese and English, and caused considerable excitement. In addition, progress in talks about a cease-fire in Angola provoked widespread speculation that the one country might act as a kind of model for the other, despite significant differences in the political, military and social situations.
Navigation for the «Peace Process» Pages
There will be an estimated 46 or 47 pages on the MHN website dedicated to the peace process, from 1984 up to November 1992. They are ordered chronologically. Click on the green button below to jump directly to the page covering the period that you are interested in. Note: at present only pages 1-12 are available, that is, up to January 1990. New pages will be posted regularly in the coming weeks.
MHN Resources
◊ May 1989
No to talks with MNR bandits, people tell president. MozambiqueFile [Maputo] (May 1989), p.8-9. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 211 kb.
◊ 3 May 1989
Chissano uses popular voice against talks. Southscan [London] (3 May 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 67 kb.
◊ 10 May 1989
Conversações com BA’s: Marcelino dos Santos desmente Voz da América. Notícias [Maputo] (10 May 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 757 kb.
◊ 13 May 1989
Mozambique: intermediaries. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] (13 May 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 26 kb. The US State Department says that it is aware of contacts with Renamo by ‘respected intermediaries’.
◊ 14 May 1989
BA’s não são oposição política. Tempo [Maputo] no.970 (14 May 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 35 kb. Fernando Ganhão (1937-2008), a member of the Comissão Permanente of the Assembleia Popular, pictured above, is quoted as saying that Renamo does not constitute an opposition to the Frelimo government.
◊ 14 May 1989
Governo moçambicano não fará conversações com BA’s: Marcelino dos Santos desmente Voz da América. Tempo [Maputo] no.970 (14 May 1989), p.3. In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 230 kb.
◊ 22 May 1989
Igreja está a promover o diálogo para a paz em Moçambique. Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (22 May 1989), p.1, 23. In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 90 kb.
◊ 1 June 1989
SA, Mozambique to cooperate for peace. Windhoek Advertiser [Windhoek] (1 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 160 kb.
◊ 15 June 1989
Mozambique: plan to end war. Africa Research Bulletin [Political, Social, and Cultural Series] [Exeter] vol.26 no.6 (15 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 130 kb. A summary of recent reports from a wide range of print and broadcast sources.
◊ 17 June 1989
Chissano says stop. Economist [London] (17 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 80 kb.
◊ 17 June 1989
Mozambique: peace initiatives. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] no.387 (17 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 125 kb.
◊ 22 June 1989
Entrevistado em Lisboa, Magaia desmente contactos com bandidos armados. Notícias [Maputo] (22 June 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 45 kb.
◊ 23 June 1989
Mozambique: time to talk. Africa Confidential [London] vol.30 no.13 (23 June 1989), p.1-3. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 393 kb.
◊ 23 June 1989
Zimbabwean president on possible Mozambican peace plan. Broadcast by Radio Zambia in Lusaka on 23 June 1989, reported in the Summary of World Broadcasts. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 24 kb.
Above: The first page of the «12-point plan» – a so-called non-paper that was circulated to selected embassies in mid-June in an attempt by the Mozambican government to test the waters regarding possible direct negotiations with Renamo. Reports of its existence began to circulate in the press around 23 June. Click on the image to download a full PDF, size 86 kb.
◊ [June 1989]
[12-point plan]. [Maputo: the Government, June 1989]. 4 pages. In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 86 kb. This document, in Portuguese, was circulated without attribution by the government in June 1989 in order to test the waters before formally accepting or rejecting the idea of direct negotiations with Renamo. Its existence was reported by Karl Meier in The Independent [London] on 23 June 1989.
◊ [June 1989]
Mozambique’s 12 principles for peace. [Maputo: the Government, June 1989]. 2 pages. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 82 kb. An English translation of the Portuguese 12-point document. Considerable care was taken by government officials to check the accuracy of the translation with mother-tongue English speakers.
◊ 23 June 1989
Karl Meier. Mozambique proposes peace talks: Renamo rebels could participate in politics, president says. Washington Post [Washington DC] (23 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 268 kb. Retyped version of the story, circulated by US diplomatic information sources.
◊ 24 June 1989
Mozambique offers talks with rebels. Washington Post [Washington DC] (24 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 99 kb.
◊ 24 June 1989
Paul Fauvet. Maputo unveils plan to end war. Guardian [London] (24 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 55 kb.
◊ 24 June 1989
Willie Zweni and David Masunda. New peace pact raises hope for Maputo. Herald [Harare] (24 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 38 kb. The signing of a cease-fire agreement between the Angolan government and the UNITA movement is seen as a hopeful sign for similar initiatives in Mozambique.
◊ 25 June 1989
Bandidos devem colaborar com governo – Presidente Joaquim Chissano, na conferência de imprensa na cidade da Beira: chefe de estado já regressou a Maputo. Domingo [Maputo] (25 June 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 62 kb. Chissano’s Beira press conference marked a subtle shift in Frelimo discourse regarding the possibility of a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
◊ 26 June 1989
Acordo de paz angolano pode ser modelo para Moçambique, declarou Chissano ao regressar do Zaire. Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (26 June 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 66 kb. Again, the idea that Angolan negotiations might serve as a model for Mozambique.
◊ 26 June 1989
E, tu Moçambique, para onde vais? Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (26 June 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 51 kb.
◊ 27 June 1989
Karl Meier. Mozambique seeks to end a war neither side can win. Independent [London] (27 June 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 110 kb. Meier filed this report from Ressano Garcia.