Mozambique: New Ombud part of 4-way horse trading – By Joseph Hanlon

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Mozambique: New Ombud part of 4-way horse trading – By Joseph Hanlon

1:56 CAT | 29 May 2018

File photo: O País

Immediately after the approval of the decentralisation constitutional amendment, parliament named Justice Minister Isaque Chande as ombudsman (provedor de justica). The appointment required a two-thirds vote in parliament, so required Renamo agreement.

President Nyusi and the late Afonso Dhlakama were not just negotiating with each other, but with the hard line groups within their own parties, which has led to complex horse-trading. Savana (25 May) says that there was agreement between Nyusi and Dhlakama on district administrators before the Renamo leader died, but Frelimo in parliament refused to allow any concession to Renamo on districts. Finally Nyusi had to put heavy pressure on the parliamentary party. He told a rally in Chemba, Sofala, Monday last week (21 May) that he had phoned the parliamentary bench and had received guarantees that Frelimo would do its best to pass the amendments. The parliamentary bench only agreed overnight Monday (21-22 May). The appointment of Chande was Renamo’s concession as part of the deal, and was voted on only after the amendments were approved. (CanalMoz 25 May)

Despite the habitual Frelimo party unity inside parliament, dissent continues outside. A Facebook post from Alexandre Chivale, lawyer to former President Armando Guebuza and a member of the G-40 group of commentators the defended him when he was president, called the amendment a “crass error” giving Renamo a “blank cheque”. He asks how Margarida Talapa, Edson Macuacua, Lucas Chomera Jeremias will explain to their grandchildren “how they divided the country and continued the war and put Frelimo into opposition.”

There appear to have been two informal agreements. One was Renamo support for Chande. The other relates to the constitutional amendment which says that the governor will be “consulted” but the Minister of State Administration will appoint the district administrator. But Savana (25 May) says there is an informal agreement that district administrators would actually be agreed between the Minister and governor.

Meanwhile, at party level Savana (25 May) says that before his death Dhlakama was negotiating with Daviz Simango, head of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) and mayor of Beira, for Renamo coalitions standing in municipal elections in some cities. Documents were written and waiting to be signed which included a joint list in Maputo city with MDM MP Venancio Mondlane as head of the list. Zitamar (28 May) comments that “Venancio started his campaign early and is a good candidate who already has Frelimo somewhat on the run in the capital.”

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: News reports & clippings