Covid-19: Standing Commission assesses President’s report, but has no suggestion on the next steps

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Covid-19: Standing Commission assesses President’s report, but has no suggestion on the next steps

5:15 CAT | 04 Aug 2020

Photo: O País

After six hours of discussion, the Standing Commission of the Assembly of the Republic (CPAR) this Monday adopted without amendment the opinion on the same of the Commission on Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality on the end of Mozambique’s state of emergency.

The document is being debated today (Tuesday)since 2:00 p.m..

The CPAR however said it did not have any suggestions as to the next steps, after the 120 days of the State of Emergency decreed by President Nyusi in the scope of combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alberto Matukutuku, spokesman for the Standing Commission, said that the body did not even dare to move forward with any suggestion about the next phase, because it shared the opinion that it is a matter of the exclusive competence of the head of state.

Specifically, the journalists asked the CPAR spokesman what the organ’s vision was, at a time when the opportunity to declare a new State of Emergency, a State of Calamity, a State of Siege or even a relaxation of measures was widely debated in public circles .

The meeting of the Standing Commission had been scheduled to start at 12 noon, but it did not start until an hour later and it only ended around 7:00 p.m., after heated discussions.

“Regarding the suggestions, there is no competence of the Standing Commission. Decreeing a State of Emergency is the responsibility of the Head of State. It is up to us to appreciate the report. After that appreciation, let us hear what will follow, the day after tomorrow,” Alberto Matukutuku said on Monday.

Regarding any next steps, President Nyusi said in his last communication that he would speak after the Assembly of the Republic had discussed a report on the end of the state of emergency. Meanwhile, he stressed, Mozambicans should be guided by scrupulous compliance with the measures currently in force.

The head of state’s report on the State of Emergency the spokesman for the Standing Commission said, was welcomed by all members of the body, which includes representatives of all the three parliamentary benches – Frelimo, Renamo and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique.

Matukuku said that CPAR recommended that the plenary session of the Assembly of the Republic, which is sovereign, positively appreciates the Head of State’s report, despite the fact that the number of individuals covered remained to be clarified. The CPAR spokesman said that they awaited explanations on the matter.

“A nominal list of those affected must be provided. There is some doubt about who is affected; it is not known whether all Mozambicans are, or just some. This is an issue that remains to be clarified,” he noted.

By Ilidio Bata

Source: Carta de Moçambique