Carlos Saíde MDM candidate for Nampula by-election

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Carlos Saíde MDM candidate for Nampula by-election

11:46 CAT | 04 Dec 2017

DW / Carlos Saíde (right): "My platform is a city clean and good governance"

Carlos Saíde is the MDM candidate for the by-elections in January resulting from the assassination of the mayor Mahamudo Amurane almost two months ago.

Carlos Saíde is the right person to take up the reins in Nampula and to continue the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) governance in the city, the party announced on Thursday when it presented its candidate in the Namicopo neighbourhood.

MDM Secretary-General Luís Boavida said that the internal election of the candidate, who was a councillor for Urbanisation under the government of Mahamudo Amurane was transparent, and asked MDM members to set aside their differences.

Luís Boavida has been critical of those who accuse the MDM of having ignored popular candidate Representative Rachade Carvalho in favour of Saide, because of the alleged interests of party elites.

Mosambik - Anhänger der MDM Partei — MDM supporters in the Namicopo neighbourhood

“If the [other] two are members of the Assembly of the Republic, they are representing the MDM party well there and will continue to do so. Carlos Saíde is eligible as a candidate and is not representing the MDM anywhere else, and so becomes the candidate,” he said.

The secretary-general also note that the person selected in these elections would only be in office for seven months because there will be further elections next year.

“The Political Commission thought that a person who had never worked in the City Council would take about three months to adapt, so would in effect only govern for three months,” he explained.

Promises of a clean city

Candidate Carlos Saíde, a 47-year-old businessman, spared his audience long speeches, only thanking the party for its trust and pledging, if elected, to work for the good of the city of Nampula.

More green areas in the neighbourhoods, better water supply and the creation and rehabilitation of roads were among his promises. “My aim will be to clean up the city and maintain good governance for the benefit of all,” he said.

The United Movement for Integral Salvation (AMUSI) party has chosen its leader Mário Muquissince, 54, as candidate for president of the third largest Mozambican city.

In an internal election with four candidates, Muquissice was the winner with 35 votes. Speaking to the press on Thursday (30.11), the candidate promised to work and fight to “keep the city clean, pay attention to the neighbourhoods, especially in opening access roads, and to ensure the improvement of urban transport, in addition to supporting young people working in small businesses”.

E-Povo in the race

The E-Povo [E-People] coalition, made up of the Independent Party of Mozambique (PIMO), the Labour Party (PT) and the National Reconciliation Party (PARENA), expressed their interest in competing in the by-election, and may field Sadreque João Mário, former adviser to Castro Namuaca, the Frelimo mayor who was replaced by Mahamudo Amurane. An announcement is expected shortly.

The Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) has already selected 58-year-old Amisse Cololo, a member who was until now director of the Secretariat of the Assembly of the Republic, while the main opposition party, the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), has chosen Paulo Vahanle, 57, professor and deputy in the National Assembly, as candidate.

Source: Deutsche Welle