Mozambique: Campaign peaceful but with incidents of “political intolerance” – AIM report

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Mozambique: Campaign peaceful but with incidents of “political intolerance” – AIM report

8:24 CAT | 27 Sep 2019

Photo: Sala da Paz

Although the current Mozambican election campaign has been generally peaceful across most of the country, there have been incidents of “political intolerance”, and a perception that those who violate the electoral laws go unpunished, according to the latest statement from the “Sala da Paz” (“Peace Room”), a coalition of civil society organisations involved in election monitoring.

Giving its report on the campaign so far, at a Maputo press conference on Thursday, Sala da Paz noted flagrant violations of the clauses in the law governing access by political parties to public spaces. Thus in Alto Molocue district, in the central province of Zambezia, Ossufo Momade, the leader and presidential candidate of the main opposition party, Renamo, was denied access to publicly owned fields on the grounds that they were being used for a football tournament organised by the ruling Frelimo Party

In Montepuez municipality, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, the municipal council denied a request from the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) for use of the “Descasque de Arroz” field, because it had been booked by Frelimo for every day during the election campaign.

Sala da Paz says, very charitably, that this demonstrates how ignorant the local authorities are of the election law, which states that publicly owned grounds must be made available to political parties during the campaign on an equitable basis.

The statement reports serious limitations on political freedom in the southern province of Gaza, long regarded as a Frelimo stronghold. In the Gaza district of Mapai, MDM members only go flyposting at night, for fear that if they are spotted during the day, they will be attacked.

In Chokwe there was a violent clash on 11 September between Frelimo members and a parade of a new party, Nova Democracia (ND – New Democracy). The ND candidate for governor of Gaza, the musician Felix Silva (better known by his stage name of Refiller Boy), laid a complaint against Frelimo with the local police – but it was he who was briefly detained, not the attackers.

Across the country there have been reports of political parties illicitly collecting voter cards or voter card numbers from citizens. In most cases, Frelimo members are accused of this offence, although in Maputo province MDM members are said to have done the same.

The police have finally begun to take action against this abuse. According to a report in the “Mozambique Political Process Bulletin”, published by the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a neighbourhood secretary in the Gaza provincial capital, Xai-Xai, was arrested on Tuesday for making a list of voter card numbers of residents of two adjacent neighbourhoods 8 and 9.

This man, Francisco Maphosse, was unlucky enough to run into Renamo campaigners, as he went door–to-door collecting card numbers.

Renamo accused Maphosse of preparing election fraud for Frelimo, and the police took him intro custody. Asked by police the reasons for collecting card numbers, Mahosse said he was only varying out orders given by a man he named as a Frelimo district secretary, Bernardo Johane, and he did not know what the information would be used for.

“I work as a private security guard and was on duty when the district secretary showed up at my house”, Maphosse said. “He handed the documents to my wife and said I should list the people who were registered in the 9th district. I don’t know where he will hand them in.”

After about an hour and a half, Maphosse was released and police said they would refer the case to the Gaza Provincial Prosecutor.

Sala da Paz says that, despite several detentions, the practice persists “and has been creating discomfort among citizens, many of whom feel intimidated”.

Of particular concern is the situation in the northern districts of Cabo Delgado, where the threat comes, not from rival political parties but from terrorist groups inspired by Islamic fundamentalism.

Election observers in the province, says the statement, “have reported that parades of the political parties have received strong protection from the Defence and Security Forces so as to allow the campaign to proceed with some tranquillity”.

Nonetheless, attacks by the insurgents have continued. The most serious was against the Mbau locality, in Mocimboa da Praia district, on Monday, when 15 people, including a policeman, were murdered. Dozens of houses, shops and other premises, including the local Frelimo offices, were burnt down.

People have fled from Mbau and from other villages attacked by the insurgents. The statement warns that unless the problem is dealt with immediately and effectively it could have a serious impact on voter turnout in the affected districts.

Sala da Paz has raised the question of “political intolerance” with Frelimo, Renamo and the MDM and with the police. The three parties promised they would step up “internal measures” to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

Source: AIM