Maputo, 14 Sep (AIM) – A member of an election brigade of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party has been caught on tape demanding that polling station staff work to ensure a Frelimo victory in the municipal elections scheduled for 11 October.
The illegal instructions were given to the directors and deputy directors of schools and to senior Frelimo cadres at a meeting held on 2 September, in the municipality of Manjacaze, in the southern province of Gaza.
The meeting, chaired by the Frelimo Party provincial brigade, sought to fine tune the Frelimo Party machine for the municipal elections. There would be nothing wrong with that – but the chairperson of the meeting called for illicit use of the polling station staff to influence the election result.
This Frelimo member (whose name was not given in the recording) said “Now we shall have chairpersons of the polling stations. We need to prepare these people. But it must be a strong preparation to understand that the victory of Frelimo depends on them. They must guarantee Frelimo’s victory”, he ordered.
But he was unaware that he was being recorded. The four minute video was obtained by the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), which has circulated it widely on social media.
In the same video, the chairperson advises the teachers to continue manipulating the elections, even if the State owes them payment for overtime.
“Maybe a teacher has not received overtime payments for three years. This teacher has to know that it will not be this time that he has to demand accountability from the Party (Frelimo). We have to work. The problem will be solved and is being solved. The government has debts with teachers and with others. It’s heavy. Those who work should receive their wages, but some situations dictated the appearance of this debt”, he claimed.
This Frelimo member also revealed that the party still owes its monitors for their work of inspecting the voter registration held between 20 April and 3 June.
“We have some debts with the monitors related with the registration work. These comrades should be united. When the conditions are ready, the matter will be solved, but not by stopping the work”.
He warned that for the monitors to receive the money they are owed, Frelimo must remain in power. “If Frelimo falls”, he said, the monitors “will get nothing”.
By now, the National Elections Commission (CNE) must be aware of this tape. Will it have the integrity to enforce the electoral legislation, and act against the Frelimo brigade in Manjacaze?
(AIM)
Pf/ (437)