Head of state must stop making inaugurations in election periods – CIP

Nampula (Mozambique), 3 Oct (AIM) – The Mozambican anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), has argued that the head of state must stop making inaugurations in election periods, because they may influence the people to vote for his political party.

The CIP statement comes in response to the inauguration of various infrastructures by the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, at a moment when the country is holding the election campaign ahead of the presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for 9 October.

According to CIP, with these inaugurations, Nyusi intends to benefit the Frelimo party and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo.

“In recent days, the President has been inaugurating several public infrastructures, violating the spirit and ethics of the election period. These inaugurations raise questions about whether they are creating advantageous situations in favour of the ruling Frelimo party and its presidential candidate”, reads the document.

CIP believes that the country’s electoral law should prohibit inaugurations or “other publicity during the election period, or in the run-up to the election. Even considering that Filipe Nyusi is not standing for re-election, for constitutional reasons, the inaugurations he has been holding have the power to influence the electorate to vote for the Frelimo party and its candidate.”

According to CIP, inaugurations during the election period are equivalent to using public resources for party political propaganda.

“In this period, the President is required to respect the principle of institutional reserve”, CIP argues. “If this principle is not respected, this means that the Frelimo party and its candidate end up taking advantage of these inaugurations”.

CIP believes that Mozambique should follow the example of Portugal, Cape Verde and Brasil, which forbid the inauguration of public works on the eve of elections.

In order to reverse the situation, CIP calls on the Mozambican parliament to amend the electoral law in order to establish prohibitions on acts that should not be carried out during the electoral period or at a time close to the holding of elections.

(AIM)

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