Proposed constitutional changes give “limited powers” to provincial and district assemblies – CIP

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Proposed constitutional changes give “limited powers” to provincial and district assemblies – CIP

2:30 CAT | 15 Feb 2018

The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a Mozambican NGO, said today that the proposal for decentralisation presented last week by the country’s president leaves provincial and district assemblies with only “limited powers”.

“Provincial and district assemblies will have limited powers, in some cases less power than municipal assemblies,” says the organisation, based on the document deposited in the Assembly of the Republic by Filipe Nyusi, the head of state.

The proposed revision of the constitution is part of the peace agreement with Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the largest opposition party.

The main novelty is the appointment of the provincial governors and district administrators by their respective assemblies instead of by central authorities, which theoretically opens doors to greater participation by political parties not in government.

However, the CIP questions the powers that these new decentralised bodies and posts will have.

The proposal for constitutional revision states that taxation, defence, security, public order, mineral resources and energy, natural resources, inland waters and the sea are powers which cannot be delegated, and will remain within the ambit of central government.

Agriculture, fisheries, food security, land management, transport, environment, forests, housing, primary health care, education, tourism, rural development and local planning, among others, will be subject to decentralisation.

the CIP points out, however, that details about who does what will depend on laws that are to be approved only later.

The proposal for constitutional revision is now with a parliamentary commission, which is expected to issue an opinion in early March, before the document is discussed by parliament.

Full text of proposed constitutional changes (in Portuguese) here

Source: Lusa