Maputo, 7 Oct (AIM) – The Mais Integridade (More Integrity) Electoral Consortium, a civil society platform for electoral observation, intends to take legal action against the election management bodies for failing to issue credentials for its observers for the country’s presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for 9 October (next Wednesday).
According to Mais Integridade, the Zambezia Provincial Electoral Commission (CPE) failed to issue credentials for its electoral observers within the legal deadlines.
The platform says it submitted a request for the accreditation of 279 election observers in that province, but by Saturday it had only received 45 credentials.
“The chairperson of the Zambezia CPE, Emílio M’paga Supelo, claims logistical difficulties in issuing the credentials and does not guarantee that by the date of the vote, all of the Consortium’s observers will have been accredited. This violates what is stated in the electoral legislation on the matter, which stipulates a deadline of five days from the date of receipt for the Provincial Electoral Commission to decide on the request for observer status”, says the Mais Integridade note.
According to the platform, the failure to comply with electoral legislation jeopardizes the credibility of the elections in Zambézia, since the presence of observers is fundamental to ensuring that the elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The conduct shown by the Zambézia CPE, the note says, is “unacceptable” and the consortium “reaffirms its commitment to the defense of electoral rights, as well as the promotion of a transparent electoral process. It therefore urges the CPE to fulfill its legal obligations and guarantee respect for democratic principles.”
The consortium consists of seven respected civil society bodies, namely the Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church, the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), the Civil Society Learning and Training Centre (CESC), Solidarity Mozambique, the Forum of Mozambican Associations of the Disabled (FAMOD), the Nucleus of Zambezia Women’s Associations (NAFEZA), and the Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body, MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa).
(AIM)
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