
PGR Procuradoria geral da Republica. Foto de Ferhat Momade
Maputo, 15 Oct (AIM) – The Mozambican Attorney General’s Office (PGR) says that it is working to prosecute illegal acts that have come to its attention concerning last Wednesday’s presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections.
According to a statement, the PGR is following up on any and all violations of ethical and electoral standards practiced by the various stakeholders involved in the elections.
“The PGR is following up on the occurrence of electoral offences, irregularities, common crimes and the violation of ethical-electoral norms, practiced by various actors in the electoral process, members and sympathizers of political parties, and electoral administration agents, among others”, says the PGR’s note.
The PGR claims that it is monitoring through the media, social networks and digital platforms “speeches that incite violence, public disorder, and above all self-proclamation of victory during the last elections, before the official release of the results by the competent bodies, which constitutes a violation of the law.”
The only person who has declared himself the winner is the independent presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, and so the PGR’s note is a veiled threat against Mondlane.
“With regard to irregularities that do not constitute electoral crimes, these have their own proceedings, in the electoral administration bodies, district courts and the Constitutional Council, where the PGR intervenes within the scope of its powers”, reads the note.
The document said that the violation of the ethical rules of the elections consists of calls for disorder, insurrection, incitement to hatred, racism, violence or war, but gave no specific examples of any of these.
“These acts are punishable by two to eight years in prison”, the PGR said. “As the guarantor of legality, the PGR calls on candidates, members of competing lists, members and sympathizers of political parties, as well as voters and the general public, to act in strict obedience to the Constitution and other laws, while awaiting the counting of votes, and the validation and proclamation of the election results by the competent bodies”.
(AIM)
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