Technical commission for political dialogue will cost over 90 million meticais

Maputo, 31 Mar (AIM) – The technical commission for implementing the agreement on “inclusive national political dialogue”, which was signed on 5 March by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and nine political parties, will cost the state coffers 91.4 million meticais (1.4 million US dollars at the current exchange rate).

This money is essentially yet another subsidy for the country’s political parties, including several that most Mozambicans have never heard of.

The parties which signed the agreement included all those represented in the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic – namely, the ruling Frelimo Party, the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos – which is now the official opposition), the former rebel movement Renamo, and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).

Thanks to its representation in the Gurúè Municipal Assembly, in the central province of Zambezia province, Nova Democracia (ND – New Democracy) was also present.

Also at the signing ceremony were four tiny political organizations which managed to win seats last October in Provincial Assemblies. These are Democratic Revolution (RD), a breakaway from Renamo, which holds six seats in the Niassa Assembly; the Humanitarian Party of Mozambique (PAHUMO), with eight seats in Cabo Delgado; the Social Renovation Party (PARESO), with two seats in Inhambane; and the National Reconciliation Party (PARENA), which holds five seats in the Gaza assembly.

According to the draft law approving the “Political Commitment for a National and Inclusive Dialogue”, which was submitted to the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, the technical commission consists of 21 members, 18 from the nine parties that signed the agreement and three from civil society organizations.

Among other tasks, the body has the mission of proposing to the leadership the working groups that will be set up to produce proposals and recommendations on each of the agreement’s priorities (constitutional amendments and governance).

According to the budget proposal, of this amount, 48 million meticais will be allocated to attendance fees (5,000 meticais per commission member); 34.5 million meticais to pay for services; 5.17 million meticais to purchase goods; 2.44 million meticais to pay allowances within the country; 883,200 meticais for fuel and lubricants; and 29,000 meticais for communications.

The bill does not reveal how long the technical commission will be in office, but it does provide for it to hold 96 ordinary sessions and 10 extraordinary sessions. It is also unclear whether the amount will be allocated through the State Budget.

The proposal explains that “the government and the signatory parties will ensure the mobilization of the human, financial, material and property resources necessary for the implementation of the Commitment.”

The proposal also says that the technical commission will be able to hire consultants or establish partnerships “with competent institutions to draw up the terms of reference for each working group.”
(AIM)
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