“Decentralisation in Mozambique depends on political will,” says German academic

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“Decentralisation in Mozambique depends on political will,” says German academic

3:42 CAT | 27 Sep 2016

German academic Bernhard Weimer argued that decentralization in Mozambique depends on political will, and that he considers the creation of the subcommittee to discuss the issue in the new peace talks a “good sign”.

“This [decentralization] depends on the will of politicians and on circumstances,” the German academic told reporters after delivering a lecture on the subject of political and administrative decentralisation in Mozambique on 22 September 22 to the Joint Commission charged with peace negotiations between the Mozambican government and the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo).

While the creation of a subcommittee for the preparation of a legislative package on decentralization “is a good sign”, Bernhard Weimer said that the adoption of a decentralised model in Mozambique is also constrained by financial resources, and the need for a consensus between the negotiating parties.

“It seems that the lecture had a good reception,” Professor Weimer noted, adding that “the questions were very good”, but without advancing further details about the closed-door meeting.

Professor Weimer was chosen by international mediators to give a lecture on the subject of decentralization to the government and Renamo teams negotiating an end to the military-political crisis in the country, because they felt that the two parties needed better theoretical tools to discuss the sensitive issue of political and administrative decentralisation in the country properly.

Mosambik Friedensverhandlungen in Maputo — Peace talks in Maputo

Very centralised political and administrative machine

In his study on decentralization, published in 2012 by the Institute of Social and Economic Studies of Mozambique (IESE), maintains Mozambique’s political and administrative machinery, inherited from the colonial past and post-independence socialist phase, is too centralized.

For Professor Weimer the, decentralisation in Mozambique must go beyond municipalisation to become a potentiating factor in rural areas and a “strong catalyst” for the country’s development.

“Decentralisation could have profound implications not only for the inhabitants of urban areas, but particularly for the well-being of the vast majority of Mozambicans living in rural areas,” the academic wrote at the time, stressing that the country’s stability also depends on the adoption of a less centralised policy.

Restoring stability in Mozambique

Decentralisation is one of the agenda points of the ongoing negotiations for the restoration of political and military stability in the country between the Mozambican government and Renamo.

Unruhen in Mosambik — Restoring stability is one of the points in the agenda of ongoing peace talks in Mozambique

The government, Renamo and international mediators have established a sub-committee to prepare a new legislative package on decentralisation, and among the points under consideration are the possibility of a constitutional revision are laws on provincial assemblies and public administration, as well as a bill of provincial finances.

Renamo demands governance of the six provinces where it claims victory in the general elections of 2014 as a condition for ending the political and military crisis that has killed many.

The central region of Mozambique has been the scene of clashes between the armed wing of the main opposition party and the Defence and Security Forces and mutual allegations of abductions and assassinations of political leaders of both parties.

The Mozambican authorities have accused Renamo of ambushes on the roads and attacks in recent weeks in locations in central and northern Mozambique, targeting police and civilian facilities such as health centres and economic targets such as the trains of Brazilian mining company Vale.

Responsibility for some of the attacks has been admitted by opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama, who justified them as a means of dispersing the defense and security forces currently responsible for the alleged bombardment in Gorongosa, where he is rumoured to be staying.

Source: Deutsche Welle