Mozambique: Electoral commission receives €3.7M to fund polls

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Mozambique: Electoral commission receives €3.7M to fund polls

10:35 CAT | 18 Aug 2024

File photo: DW

Mozambique’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) has now received 260 million meticais (€3.7 million) to finance the campaign for the October elections, the distribution of which began on Thursday, the body announced on Friday.

‘We are here with some satisfaction because we have finally managed to obtain the funds [for the campaign] to the tune of 260 million meticais to finance the 37 political organisations running [in the general elections],’ said Paulo Cuinica, spokesman for the CNE, during a press conference in Maputo.

According to the official, 86 million meticais (€1.2 million) will be distributed for each election, namely the presidential, legislative and provincial elections, which will be divided into three instalments for each political grouping.

‘This amount will be divided equally between the contenders for the Presidency of the Republic,’ said Cuinica, adding that each candidate should receive 21 million meticais (€299,000). In contrast, for the other elections, the amount will be divided according to the number of seats for which the political force is running.

The three parliamentary parties, the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power), the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the largest opposition party, and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the third political force, should each receive 40 million meticais (€570,000).

The CNE spokesman said that the second and third instalments will be made available on presentation of proof of previous spending, pointing out that eligible expenses include electoral political propaganda material, written or recorded propaganda texts published in the media, bank charges, travel expenses and subsistence allowances.

If irregularities in the justifications are not remedied within 60 days, the CNE said fines will be imposed, and the cases will be referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for appropriate legal effects.

The Mozambican electoral commission apologised to candidates and political groupings for the delay in making the funds available, which should have taken place 21 days before the start of the electoral campaign, which kicks off on the 24th of this month and will run until 6 October.

Mozambique is holding general elections on 9 October, including presidential, legislative and provincial elections.

The current president, Filipe Nyusi, will not be running in the elections, as he has already reached the constitutional limit of two terms in office.

Daniel Chapo, supported by Frelimo, Ossufo Momade, supported by Renamo, Lutero Simango, supported by MDM, and Venâncio Mondlane are running for the presidency.

Source: Lusa