Mozambique Elections: Frelimo Central Committee meets in April – but choosing a presidential candidate for October is not on the agenda

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Mozambique Elections: Frelimo Central Committee meets in April – but choosing a presidential candidate for October is not on the agenda

8:38 CAT | 18 Mar 2024

Photo: O País

Frelimo has called a meeting of its Central Committee (CC) for the 5th and 6th of April, but, against all expectations, the election of the presidential candidate for the general elections of October 9th is not on the agenda, secretary- general of the Association of Combatants of the National Liberation Struggle (ACLLN), Fernando Faustino, says.

“As far as I know, the Central Committee will meet on the 5th and 6th, and it already has its agenda for that meeting. As far as I know, there is no question of succession or presidential candidates,” Fernando Faustino told a conference press Nampula this Monday (18-03) morning.

Made up mainly of veterans of the anti-colonial struggle, ACLLN is a social arm of the Frelimo party and has great influence within the party in power.

Responding to our question about the ideal profile for the next President of the Republic, the source responded bluntly that: “We want a person who embraces Mozambique; a capable person, a person whose objectives are the development of this country; a person who is sure that we actually want to get out of the situation we find ourselves in, the difficulties we have; therefore, a capable, competent person, who has demonstrated the well-being of the Mozambican people in everyday life. It’s not just anyone. And within the members of Frelimo we have several cadres, we will find someone capable of leading this country.”

The absence of an agenda item does not necessarily mean there will be a delay in nominating the candidate. There are six months from April to October, a period that should be used for the pre-campaign, the campaign and the ballot itself on October 9th.

“I think this is relative when you say it takes a long time. Delay in relation to what? We are following everything regarding the calendar, everything that is happening in this country. Now, Frelimo has to organise itself better, because it is not an easy thing, we have to find a better candidate who will meet the desires of the Mozambican people,” Faustino said.

Like the ACLLN, he refuses to express any choice for presidential candidate, because he understands that the members of the CC, and not the social organisations, have this mandate.

His presence in Nampula, in his capacity as head of the central Frelimo brigade providing assistance to the province of Nampula, aims to help formalise the office of preparation for the upcoming elections.

Source: O País