Nyusi addresses meeting of Frelimo social organisations

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Nyusi addresses meeting of Frelimo social organisations

8:37 CAT | 20 Aug 2018

Photos: Courtesy of Frelimo Tete

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, in his capacity as President of the ruling Frelimo Party, on Saturday urged members of the social organisations affiliated to Frelimo to pay close attention to the innovations the country is going through, such as the rapid expansion of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

The Frelimo social organisations are the Mozambican Women’s Organisation (OMM), the Mozambique Youth Organisation (OJM), and the Association of Veterans of the National Liberation Struggle (ACLLN).

A two day seminar of these organisations began in the western city of Tete on Saturday, as part of Frelimo’s preparations for the municipal elections due to be held on 10 October. Hence the heads of the Frelimo lists (and thus candidates for mayor) of all 53 municipalities are also taking part in the meeting.

According to a report in the online version of the independent daily “O Pais”, Nyusi told the meeting that the expansion of the ICTs “should be an opportunity for the consolidation of an ever more democratic and critical society”.

“Our relationship with the digital economy is inevitable”, he insisted.

Nyusitete.frelimotetefb

Nyusi praised the advances made in the dialogue with the rebel movement Renamo, intended to achieve effective peace. Those advances include Wednesday’s announcement of the creation of working groups between the government and Renamo to oversee the demobilisation and disarming of the Renamo militia, and the integration of its members into the armed forces or police, or back into civilian life.

“The latest understandings”, Nyusi said, “bear witness to the willingness of Frelimo to join other forces to secure an effective and lasting peace and to make Mozambique a country where political difference are solved on the basis of trust and sincere dialogue”.

He stressed that he will do all in his power to ensure that the demilitarisation, disarming and reintegration of Renamo’s armed men takes place within the agreed parameters and deadlines.

Turning to the heads of the Frelimo lists of candidates for the 53 municipalities, Nyusi said at this meeting they should roll up their sleeves in advance of the approaching elections, and seek out strategies to ensure victory. He added that, since the internal elections within Frelimo to choose candidates have now concluded, all party members should cultivate the values of unity, cohesion and the spirit of comradeship.

According to the programme for the meeting, participants will also discuss such themes as “the sustainability of the Social Organisations in a political context undergoing constant transformation”, and “the role of the Social Organisations in implementing the Frelimo Party programme”.

Speaking on Friday, the Frelimo General Secretary, Roque Silva, declared that it is imperative Frelimo wins the October municipal elections.

In Tete, “whatever happens, come rain or shine, Frelimo must win the elections in the four municipalities in this province”, declared Silva. “All eyes should be on our victory, since the conditions for this exist. I have come here to check on preparations, but we know things are going well and so we shall win the October elections”.

The four municipalities are the provincial capital, Tete City, and the towns of Moatize, Ulongue and Nhamayabue, and all four are currently run by Frelimo mayors and Frelimo majorities in the municipal assemblies. Frelimo is standing the mayors of Tete, Moatize and Nhamayabue, respectively Cesar de Carvalho, Carlos Portimao and Alberto Amade, for a further term of office. The only new candidate is Evaristo Fidelis, who heads the Frelimo list for Ulongue.

Portimao is a controversial candidate because, in 2013, he was detained for offering money to the Moatize district attorney, Ivania Mussagy. The Frelimo spokesperson at the time, Damiao Jose, claimed it was just a misunderstanding, and that Portimao had not offered a bribe, but was merely thanking the attorney for allowing a relative of his to await trial on a criminal charge at home.

Nonetheless, Portimao was summarily tried, and sentenced to three months imprisonment, which was converted into a fine. He paid the fine at once, and was allowed to run in the mayoral election held the subsequent month.

Source: AIM