Africa-Press – Cape verde. Fábio Vieira, speaking during the public presentation of the proposed laws on the Statute of Municipal Elected Officials and the Administrative Oversight of Local Authorities, held at a hotel in the capital, stated that these proposed laws come at a crucial time, as they address two “fundamental” pillars for the future of municipalities.
The ANMCV leader welcomed this initiative, considering the role of mayor to be one of the “most demanding and exhausting” roles in the political and administrative landscape, emphasizing that they are the “visible faces” of the State, the closest to the citizens, managing expectations for essential services and territorial development.
In this regard, Fábio Vieira took the opportunity to “uncompromisingly” advocate for the establishment of robust legal guarantees that ensure the stability and recognition of these public servants, emphasizing that the issue of retirement is central to this equation.
“A mayor who dedicates years of his life to municipal public service cannot be left destitute at the end of his term. It’s a matter of justice and recognition of the value of this role, but it’s also a way to attract and retain the best people for municipal leadership,” he emphasized.
“Dignifying the role means, above all, ensuring safety and decent conditions for those who perform it,” assured Fábio Vieira, who also serves as mayor of Mosteiros, on Fogo Island.
Regarding the administrative oversight framework, he said that the ANMCV sees this review as a historic opportunity to define a relationship model that truly serves the country’s development.
“We need a framework that clarifies the roles of each actor, eliminates ambiguities, and replaces a logic of control with one of cooperation, technical support, and strengthening institutional capacities.
He added, in this regard, that this new framework must be designed to strengthen local power and consolidate decentralization, promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in municipal management.
According to the same source, the issue of decentralization is also another point that requires “bolder” action and cannot be a “timid” process.
In his view, the problems, challenges, and expectations of citizens lie within the municipalities, and to respond effectively to these challenges, it is imperative that the transfer of powers be unequivocally accompanied by the transfer of adequate financial and human resources.
“There is no autonomy without resources, there is no development without the capacity for local investment. “It’s time to take this decisive step,” he said, emphasizing that it is “crucial” to emphasize the urgency of building the political consensus necessary for the approval of the new municipal financial regime.
“This instrument is the economic pillar of local autonomy and cannot be postponed,” he said.
The meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion in partnership with the National Association of Municipalities of Cape Verde, was chaired by the Minister of State and Territorial Cohesion, Janine Lélis, and was attended by the presidents of the Municipal Chambers, the presidents of the National Municipal Assemblies, and representatives of the Attorney General’s Office and the Court of Auditors.
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