Local polls: Mozambique electoral body suspends candidates’ lists

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Local polls: Mozambique electoral body suspends candidates’ lists

9:28 CAT | 04 Jul 2018

File photo: O País

Mozambique’s National Electoral Commission, (CNE) has suspended the submission of candidacies for the October 10 municipal elections due to the lack of a law on the new election model for the municipal mayors , APA can report on Wednesday. The submissions were supposed to start on Thursday but this is however suspended and will only resume, depending on the approval of a new law.

“Only after the new law is approved will the election process be rescheduled and will be assessed if there are conditions for holding the ballot on 10 October”, CNE spokesperson Paulo Cuinica told journalists in Maputo on Wednesday.

The law that determines the new model for the election of the municipal mayors should have been approved at the special session of the National Assembly, which has been postponed and undated for its accomplishment.

This followed a lack of understanding between the government and Renamo on the disarmament and integration of the movement’s armed militias into the security forces.

Late last month, President Filipe Nyusi said the demilitarisation of militias of the former rebel movement is a condition for a democratic, stable and peaceful Mozambique,

An agreement was announced in February to amend the constitution for reforms that will allow voters to directly elect the 10 provincial governors who at present are appointed by the president, a move that Renamo had for years repeatedly lobbied for.

The last outstanding point in the peace talks before the death of Renamo leader Alfonso Dhlakama in May concerned the thorny reintegration of his fighters into the state security forces.

Source: APA