Frelimo says it’s open to changing the Constitution over decentralization – Mozambique

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Frelimo says it’s open to changing the Constitution over decentralization – Mozambique

10:35 CAT | 21 Dec 2016

Lusa (File photo)

The parliamentary bench of the Mozambican Liberation Front (Frelimo), the ruling party, said yesterday that it was open to a constitutional revision to extend the country’s decentralisation, proposing a calm debate on the issue.

“We reiterate the need for all parliamentary benches to unite to find the best way to extend decentralisation, even if this means revising the Constitution,” head of the Frelimo parliamentary bench Margarida Talapa said in the final parliamentary session yesterday.

Decentralisation, she said, must take the realities of each country into account and should be guided by calm, objective and dispassionate debate.

“It should be a choice that provides for local development and allows greater participation of citizens in decisions about their lives,” she added.

Talapa called on Mozambicans to fight division in all its forms, denouncing the use of armed violence as a political weapon.

Greater decentralisation is one of the most important aspects of the peace negotiations between the Mozambican government and the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party.

Renamo demands to govern in six central and northern provinces where it claims victory in the general elections of 2014, accusing Frelimo of having vitiated the ballot to fraudulently keep itself in power.

Government and Renamo recently agreed to set up a specialized working group on decentralisation, but the main opposition party accused the executive of seeking to exclude international mediators from the discussions.

Frelimo earlier this year proposed a law granting autonomy to the six provinces claimed by Renamo.

The center and north of the country have been the scene of clashes between Mozambican security forces and the armed wing of Renamo, as well as reciprocal party member and activist assassination allegations.

Source: Lusa