Afonso Dhlakama

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Afonso Marceta Macacho Dhlakama (born 1 January 1953 in Mangunde, Mozambique) is a Mozambican politician.

He is the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), a former anti-communist guerrilla organization that was formed and initially supported by the Rhodesian white minority government to oppose the Marxist Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) government. Later it was supported by the apartheid government in South Africa. The group has since transformed into the country's main opposition political party, since 1989.

After RENAMO's first leader, André Matsangaissa, was killed by Mozambican government forces in 1979, Dklakama became leader after a violent succession struggle, in which rival Orlando Cristina was assassinated. By 1984, Dhalakama was both commander in chief of Renamo's forces and head of the governing body, the 12 member executive council.

Dhlakama has competed as the RENAMO candidate in all three multiparty presidential elections held in Mozambique. In 1994, he was defeated by incumbent President and FRELIMO candidate Joaquim Chissano 53.3% to 33.7%. He received 47.7% of the vote in the 1999 presidential election with Chissano capturing 52.3%. In the most recent presidential election held in December 2004, he was defeated by FRELIMO candidate Armando Guebuza who received 63.7% of the vote to his 31.7%.

International observers to the elections criticized the fact that the National Electoral Commission (CNE) did not conduct entirely fair and transparent elections. They listed a whole range of serious shortcomings by the electoral authorities that benefited the ruling party FRELIMO. [[1]] [[2]]. Some believe that the pronounced outcome of the parliamentary election and thus the distribution of seats in the National Assembly does not reflect the will of the Mozambican people.

In October 2006, on the 14th anniversary of the peace accords, Dhlakama threatened to form his own army.[3]