Maputo, Mozambique – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo appointed his new prime minister and 12 senior ministers, the government said Friday, all members of the ruling Frelimo party, which opponents claim rigged last October’s election.
Chapo was sworn in Wednesday in a heavily guarded ceremony, extending his Frelimo party’s 50-year rule of the gas-rich African nation after the contested election sparked weeks of violent demonstrations.
In his inaugural speech, Chapo said political dialogue was taking place to reunite the country.
“We won’t rest until we have a united and cohesive country on the road to building well-being for all of us,” he said.
Some analysts had speculated he could offer the opposition some senior posts to quell the unrest, but no such concessions were announced on Friday.
At least 307 people have been killed in post-election violence including seven on the day of Chapo’s inauguration, according to NGO Plataforma Decide.
Police declined to comment on Wednesday’s events.
The main opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who insists he won the vote, also gave an address on Facebook on Friday calling for peace.
“There is an imperative, there is a demand to stop all violence against the population,” Mondlane said. “We have to stop the silent genocide that is happening in Mozambique.”
Mondlane implored the government to provide compensation to victims of the unrest and their families, and to release those detained in the demonstrations.
Addressing criticism of police’s use of force, Chapo on Wednesday said an independent watchdog with civilian oversight would be established “to investigate possible misconduct attributed to members of the police force”.
Chapo on Friday named former justice minister Maria Benvinda Delfina Levi as prime minister, while former defence minister Cristovao Artur Chume was re-appointed to the role.
Several ministries including education, youth and sport have not yet been announced.
© Agence France-Presse
