Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Council of State, convened by the President, Filipe Nyusi, proposed the review of the electoral law and the “de-politicization” of Mozambique’s electoral management bodies, in view of the current social tension following this year’s October elections.
The final statement of Council of State’s seventh meeting “considered that the post-electoral crisis challenges the Mozambican state to carry out profound reforms as a way of preventing such acts from happening again in the future”, in a scenario in which, two months later, the results of the October 9 elections have yet to be officially announced.
“To this end, a timely and inclusive review of the electoral law was proposed, which should focus on issues such as the de-politicisation and professionalization of electoral management bodies, as well as the adoption of measures to promote transparency and credibility in electoral processes,” the statement reads.
Still on the post-election demonstrations, which since October 21 have already caused at least 110 deaths according to a report released on Tuesday by the Plataforma Eleitoral Decide NGO, the body “strongly condemned the extreme violence that has taken the form of the destruction of public and private infrastructure, blocking of roads, attacks on subunits of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique and vandalisation of commercial establishments”.
“This fact contributes to the weakening of the national economy. In this context, the Defence and Security Forces [FDS] must make efforts to ensure the normal functioning of institutions and the lives of Mozambicans,” the meeting’s final statement reads.
The Council of State also condemns “the involvement of children and adolescents in criminal offences associated with the demonstrations”.
In the same vein, the Council of State urges the FDS “to be prepared to meet the challenges that the country faces”, stressing that, “however, they must improve their capacity to interact with communities, prioritising dialogue and resorting to force only in cases of extreme necessity and when all other mechanisms have been exhausted”.
He also “urged the active forces in society to strengthen dialogue leading to the production of consensus on the future of Mozambique” and “encouraged political parties, religious denominations, academia and civil society to jointly seek solutions to the problems facing the country, with the aim of promoting and consolidating social cohesion”.
The meeting also discussed the operational situation in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, and the fight of the Mozambican FDS and the Rwandan military against terrorist groups operating in the region, highlighting the “results achieved” and the “improved protection” of the population and their assets.
“The theme we suggest for this meeting is the reflection or assessment of the country’s political situation,” explained President Filipe Nyusi at the opening of the meeting, in the presence of advisors such as former presidents Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza and the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo, the largest opposition party).
The Council of State is responsible for “advising the President of the Republic in the exercise of his functions whenever he so requests”, as well as “obligatory pronouncement” on issues such as the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic, declaration of war, state of siege or of emergency, holding a referendum and calling general elections.
Wednesday marked the end of a new phase of protests and demonstrations that began on December 4th and were once again called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognize the results announced by the National Electoral Commission, which gave victory to Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo, and which still have to be validated by the Constitutional Council.
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