Shortage of funds threatens elections

Maputo, 29 May (AIM) – The chairperson of Mozambique’s National Elections Commission (CNE), Anglican bishop Carlos Matsinhe, has warned that lack of money is threatening the general elections scheduled for 9 October.

Cited in Wednesday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, during a visit to the southern province of Inhambane, Matsinhe said that suppliers of goods to the electoral bodies are threatening that they will not provide any more services until the CNE’s existing debts have been cleared.

The suppliers are thus threatening to pull the plug less than five months from the presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections. Up until now, the CNE has been able to obtain goods and services on credit – but not any more.

Now the suppliers want payment of the debts that the CNE has run up. Matsinhe said that the electoral bodies owe money to “many suppliers”, but he did not name them or say how much money is needed to liquidate the debts.

Failure to pay the debts, he admitted, had led companies to slam their doors in the face of the CNE.

Without the money to pay for goods and services, the CNE will find itself quite unable to organise the elections in good time.

This financial crisis has been brewing for well over a year, and the CNE has repeatedly warned the government that it is in urgent need of more funds.

(AIM)

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