Mozambique elections: AMUSI intimidation, Cabo Delgado attacks, teachers must campaign – By Joseph Hanlon

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Mozambique elections: AMUSI intimidation, Cabo Delgado attacks, teachers must campaign – By Joseph Hanlon

3:27 CAT | 05 Sep 2019

For illustration purposes only [File photo: DW]

AMUSI presidential candidate claims intimidation by Renamo and SISE

Mario Albino, the fourth presidential candidate and president of the United Action Movement for Integral Salvation (Accao do Movimento Unido para a Salvacao Integral, AMUSI), complained to this Bulletin that both Renamo and the security services (Servicos de Informacao e Seguranca do Estado, SISE) in Nampula were trying to intimidate him.

Albino said that this morning (Wednesday 4 Sept) when no one was in the party headquarters in the Namutequeliua neighbourhood it was assaulted by Renamo members. “Fortunately they were seen and we called the police,” said Albino.

He also said that on the first two days of the campaign three and two young people in the party’s parade claimed to be SISE agents. And on Monday, a Mahindra car with smoked glass windows tried to block the gate of his residence in Muhala after he returned from party headquarters. Albino was saved by his personal guards. The candidate says he has already applied for police protection but so far has received no response.

AMUSI is a small party founded in Nampula, mostly by Renamo dissidents. Initially it was created as a citizen movement and was transformed into a party after notable success in the local elections. Albino is the only small party candidate to have obtained the necessary 10,000 signatures to stand for President.

Party platforms

The party platforms of the three main parties and two small parties will be posted (in Portuguese) shortly on our website: https://cipeleicoes.org/documentos/ More will be posted as the become available.

First attacks on Cabo Delgado since campaign start

After a quiet weekend which allowed campaigning to start, there were insurgent attacks in Cabo Delgado on Monday and Tuesday (2,3 September). On Monday a man was killed as he left Nguri Aquarium for the village of Chitunda in Muidumbe district, our correspondents report.

The second attack, in Mocimboa da Praia district was thwarted. A young man was chased by five insurgents on his way back from his farm on Tuesday morning at the administrative post in Mbau, 83 km from the district centre. The man shot and killed one attacker with an arrow, and the other four insurgents fled.

CNE confirms campaign killings

“In the short period of this electoral campaign there has already been widespread violation of the rules governing political activity,” said National Elections Commission (CNE) spokesperson Paulo Cuinica. He added that the CNE was aware of two murders in Dondo connected with the election campaign, reported here yesterday.

Since the beginning of the election campaign, the Bulletin has reported cases of party violence, intimidation, use of state assets, leaflets damaged or overlaid, placards in public places and religious buildings, among others, which violate electoral law. Cuinica said such acts tarnish the electoral campaign, adding that some of these have already been referred to the competent authorities.

3 Frelimo hurt in road accidents

Traffic accidents remain a major cause of death and injury in Mozambique and in the campaign. Two people were seriously injured yesterday when their motorcyle was in an accident during a Frelimo parade in Macucunha, Namacurra district.

And in Atenas, Vanduzi, a campaigner putting up Frelimo posters was hit by a car. Manica police spokesman Mario Arnaca said the car was travelling too fast.

Teachers forced to campaign

In Morrumbala, Zambezia Frelimo forced civil servants to leave their posts to participate in its campaign when that party’s list head visited the district. Also in the same district, school principals and teachers are required to contribute 500 and 200 meticais ($8 and $3) respectively to the Frelimo campaign by Friday. The district director of Youth Education and Technology Services (SDEJT) is also director of the Frelimo campaign.

In Inhassunge district, Zambezia, Frelimo mobilized teachers from the local Secondary School to participate in its campaign.

In Murrupula district, Nampula, primary school teachers from Nacurare were forced to participate in the Frelimo campaign during the head of list’s visit in that district. A teacher heard told the Bulletin “we were threatened that someone will control us and those who do not participate in the campaign will have a salary discount.” On Monday, the director of the SDEJT in the district held a meeting of heads of schools to say they should contribute money to fund the Frelimo campaign. The demand was not well received.

22 parties receive state money

Nearly a month late, and with only 6 weeks to the elections, 22 of the 27 parties have at last received the first tranche of government funding. Five still have not submitted adequate bank details and other documents, CNE spokesperson Cuinica said at a press conference today. The first tranche is half of the money, and the rest is distributed in two parts after the parties have accounted for the previous funds.

Noise, threats and bending the rules

In some places conflicts, threats and tension continues. In Mongincual district, Nampula, Frelimo supporters exchanged insults with their Renamo counterparts on Tuesday night. Renamo supporters had pasted Renamo posters on the residence of Frelimo’s secretary and other party members in the district. Supporters of the largest opposition party were forced to remove the posters.

Frelimo supporters threatened to kill a Renamo member at the Mucumbura administrative post in the district of Magoe, Tete, for putting up posters of his party. At the same location, Renamo supporters were barred from campaigning by Frelimo supporters. Police were called in to intervene to enforce order.

In Inhambane province, MDM complained about the vandalization of its party’s electoral propaganda material in Zavala district and police are investigating.

In Maputo city, Frelimo’s Head of Mobilization in the Mali neighbourhood, Rogerio Magaia, complains that Renamo is campaigning in public institutions. Magaia mentioned the visit made by Renamo’s head of the provincial list, Antonio Muchanga, to EPC (primary school) Eduardo Mondlane. Renamo’s head of the list went to school and spoke of the possibility of building more classrooms. However, Muchanga told the Bulletin that with the visit he intended only to ascertain how many students are studying outdoors.

Source: 2019 General Elections - Mozambique Political Process Bulletin