Maputo, 2 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), the country’s second largest opposition party, on Saturday submitted the nomination papers of its leader, Lutero Simango, for the presidential election scheduled for 9 October.
All nominations for President of the Republic are checked by the Constitutional Council, the country’s highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law.
The most difficult requirement for a candidate is that he must submit a minimum of 10,000 (and a maximum of 20,000) supporting signatures from registered voters. Each of these signature must be duly identified and confirmed by a notary.
In the past, only the three parliamentary parties – the ruling Frelimo Party and the opposition Renamo and MDM – have proved able to collect 10,000 valid signatures. Since the Constitutional Council has access to the computerised national voter roll, it can check all the signatures to see if they come from registered voters with recognised voter card numbers.
Other documents required from candidates include authenticated photocopies of their identity cards and voter cards, as well as their criminal record certificates, and the identification of their election agents.
Simango thanked “all members and supporters of the MDM, and the Mozambican people, for creating the conditions, so that we were able today to deposit our nomination papers with the Constitutional Council”.
Simango stressed that he is not standing as an individual. “This is a collective candidature”, he said. “It is a candidature that mirrors the will of Mozambicans, who are hoping for changes. We are ready and prepared for the challenges ahead of us”.
The Chairperson of the Constitutional Council, Lucia Ribeiro, said that, after all its paperwork has been checked, the MDM will be notified to correct any irregularities that may be detected.
She added that the Council expects to announce a final ruling on the presidential candidates by 25 June.
Simango’s candidature was presented a day after that of Ossufo Momade the leader of the main opposition party, Renamo. It is not yet known when the nomination papers of the Frelimo candidate, Daniel Chapo, will be submitted. The deadline is 10 June.
One candidate who has promised to run as an independent is Venancio Mondlane, who was the Renamo candidate for mayor of Maputo in last year’s municipal elections.
Although he has neither resigned from nor been expelled from Renamo, Mondlane is running against Momade, and his supporters are busy collecting the signatures he will need.
(AIM)
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