Africa-Press – Angola. Dozens of Angolan organizations and individuals have launched a manifesto on the electoral law, which they say contains “structural deficiencies”, in which they ask that their proposals be part of the parliamentary debate.
Angolan civil society considers that the Organic Law on General Elections contains “structural deficiencies” that must be corrected to guarantee transparency and electoral integrity.
In the manifesto that Lusa had access to today, signed by 24 civil society organizations in Angola and individuals, the National Assembly (parliament) is urged to halt the mechanism for approving proposed changes to the law.
Proposals to amend the law are currently being discussed in parliament, initiated by the Angolan government, supported by the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA, in power), and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA, the largest opposition party).
For the signatories of the manifesto, an initiative of the Mudei Civic Movement, the proposed changes “were submitted by the parties competing in the 2027 elections without due consultation with the sovereign”, the people.
These recall the constitutional right to legislative initiative and consider that the rights to participate in the country’s political life “have been systematically denied, compromising the transparency and fairness of the electoral process”.
“Once again, there is an attempt to change the rules of the [electoral] game without the involvement of society, through proposals exclusively from the MPLA and UNITA,” the manifesto states.
According to the signatories, the proposal aims to “correct structural deficiencies” in the aforementioned law and consolidate electoral democracy in Angola, through several measures, such as guaranteeing transparency and electoral integrity and the independence of the National Electoral Commission (CNE).
The signatories of the manifesto advocate reforming the composition of the CNE to ensure that its members are chosen independently, without political influence, eliminating the possibility of them coming from political parties involved in the dispute.
On the other hand, they also propose active monitoring and observation by civil society, namely free access for national and international observers to the electoral process to reinforce the legitimacy of the results.
Equitable access to the media, to guarantee equal opportunities for all candidates in presenting their proposals to the electorate, and the impartiality of the courts in validating the results, with the creation of an electoral court, separate from the Constitutional Court, are also among the proposals set out in the manifesto.
The manifesto also requests that the discussion of the proposal to be discussed in the parliamentary debate be broadcast live on the media so that citizens can follow it properly. By 11:30, the manifesto had been signed by 280 people.
Law No. 9/22, of April 20, which regulates the exercise of the right to petition, consulted by Lusa, does not mention a minimum number of signatures for a petition to be considered valid or considered by the National Assembly.
The undersigned
Civic Alliance of Huíla (ACH)
Angola First
Association Tchetu Civic
Association Women’s Association for Civil and Political Rights
Kwanza Norte Youth Association (AJOKWA)
United Youth Association of Cacuso (AJUC)
Mudar Viana Association
Yetu mu Yetu Association Angola
Club-K
Commission for Justice and Peace, Catholic Church
Brilliant Minds Community (CMB)
Handeka
Jango Cultural
Jaula Cultural
Young Academics and Opinion Makers (JAFO)
Kutakesa
Miazaza
Mizangala Tu Yeu Kopolo
Mosaiko
Think Bié Movement (MPB)
Think Differently Movement (MPD)
PLACA
Benguela Activists Network
Malanjina
Uyele Resistance
Adilson Manuel
Alcides Sandala
Alexandra Gamito
Alfredo Nhati
Ana Filomena Ferreira
Antonio Chibuabua Martins
Antonio Joaquim
Antonio Manuel Teixeira
Carlos Figueiredo
Cesaltina Abreu
Chipilica Eduardo
Cristina Pinto
David Maiele St. Sebastian
Domingos Fernando Piriquito Gomes
Domingos Mario
Edson Gabriel
Eduardo Gumbe
Elizabeth Campos Andre
Felix Bom-Ano
Florita Cuhanga A. Telo
Gilberto Pedro
Grego Fidei
Hélder Neto
Ilidio Manuel
Inocêncio Lopes
Jesse Figueiredo Tuta Lourenço
Jessé Francisco
João Carlos Pinto
João Stattmiller Joaquim
João Culembe Josefa da Silva Mario De Jesus Franga Nelson Dibango Fr. Celestino Epalanga Rev. Ntoni-a-Nzinga Ricardo Alfredo Serafim João da Costa Silvano Olimpio Tiago Ngana Chimbassi
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