Renamo deputies at risk of losing positions in Inhambane Provincial Assembly

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Renamo deputies at risk of losing positions in Inhambane Provincial Assembly

2:22 CAT | 29 Sep 2016

mhoje_inhambaneprovincialassembly_photo_jpg

DW / Inhambane Provincial Assembly

Six members of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) may lose their seats in Inhambane Provincial Assembly for absenteeism. The process for the replacement of two of the defaulting members of the opposition party is already in the hands of the president of the assembly, Pedro Mariano. No one knows the whereabouts of the other four members.

“According to law, if deputies exceed a set number of days’ absence without informing the assembly, they may lose their mandate,” said Mariano. Members have to give reasons for absences within 30 days. One of the deputies, who delivered his request to suspend the mandate late, has already been prevented from receiving his salary for two months, Mariano said.

Deputies threatened, says Renamo

According to Angelo Fafetine, head of the Renamo bench in the provincial assembly, the members are being persecuted. Fafetine reports that one of them was shot at his home in Maxixe and “being scared, has not appeared at provincial assembly sessions until this moment”.

“The deputy has asked to be replaced by the member who is next on the list,” he added, “but the assembly has not discussed the matter.”

Fafetine adds that the suspension of salary payments shows lack of respects for Renamo members and is moreover illegal. “We have a law that says that the measure has to respond to an order resulting from disciplinary proceedings. I do not recall that the provincial assembly has established a case against any member of Renamo for disciplinary offenses,” he said.

In April, the second deputy chairperson of the provincial assembly and a member of Renamo, António Chulo, was shot as he was leaving a session [of the Assembly] but escaped with his life. Other members of the opposition party have abandoned their homes for fear of being killed by unknown armed men.

Source: Deutsche Welle