Demobilisation: complete

Renamo guerrillas home for Christmas, 30 years on

Good afternoon. Renamo’s fighters will all be home for Christmas — albeit Christmas 30 years after the General Peace Accord was signed in Rome. The former guerrilla movement’s last military base in the Gorongosa mountains was closed today, and the final lot of 350 former fighters demobilised.

Watch this space for further comment on this milestone later this week. President Nyusi will surely also give his comment in his State of the Nation speech, due to be delivered to parliament tomorrow. The peace process is one of the biggest achievements of his two terms in office — and one he will be keen to play up as he apparently angles for a third.

Zitamar’s customary break for the holiday season will start at the end of this week, and the last Daily Briefing of the year will be this Thursday, 22 December. Back tomorrow!

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Agenda:

• Tomorrow: President Nyusi delivers State of the Nation speech to parliament

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Today’s headlines:

• Renamo’s last base in Gorongosa closes, but issues remain

• CNE says it has enough money for municipal elections

• More than 361,000 displaced people return home in Cabo Delgado

• Dual track for Ressano Garcia railway to be completed by March

• LAM expands fleet; Pemba airport needs expanding

Today’s front pages in Maputo. Photo © Faizal Chauque / Zitamar News