The seven main revisions to the Mozambique Constitution proposed by MDM

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The seven main revisions to the Mozambique Constitution proposed by MDM

11:29 CAT | 07 Dec 2017

MDM Facebook / Daviz Simango

The president of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) Daviz Simango yesterday proposed seven main revisions to the Mozambique constitution while speaking at the opening of party’s second congress in Nampula.

According to Daviz Simango, “only a constitutional revision can prevent problems” linked to “political conflicts, the economy and security”.

Alluding to the current concentration of functions, the MDM firstly proposes a “reduction in the powers of the head of the state, since no modern state has found prosperity under a totalitarian government”.

Simango also defended the direct election of the provincial governors, because the undemocratic nature of the provinces was “the main justification for the armed conflicts” in Mozambique.

“Development and modernity,” he said, “will only come with autonomous provinces, with their own competences”.

The direct election of the provincial governors is also one of the points on the negotiating table for peace between President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama.

Simango also supports granting provincial assemblies powers to oversee and approve activities and budgets, municipalisation throughout the national territory, the administrative and financial freedom of judicial magistrates and Assembly of the Republic participation in the selection of the governor of the Bank of Mozambique.

The review would also create a Court of Auditors and transform the Constitutional Council into a constitutional court.

“All these are important points that cannot continue to be ignored,” he said.

Also Read: MDM women and youth call for greater say in party

With two years of elections in prospect (municipal elections in 2018 and general elections in 2019), Simango said that failing to integrate the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) into the National Electoral Commission (CNE) would only “hold electoral constituencies hostage and stimulate armed conflict”.

The second MDM congress brings together 1,500 delegates and national and foreign guests at a hotel development on the outskirts of Nampula.

Source: Lusa