Maputo, 22 Apr (AIM) – Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane on Monday met the European Union ambassador to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, “to discuss the country’s political situation.”
According to a message made public on the European Union Facebook account, at the meeting held in Maputo, Maggiore and Mondlane “exchanged views on the political situation in Mozambique”, after the mass demonstrations called by Mondlane in order to protest against the allegedly fraudulent results of the elections held last October.
During the protests, which later degenerated into rioting, over 350 people were shot dead by police according to data from the NGO “Decide” Electoral Platform. The protests were also characterized by looting and the destruction of businesses and public infrastructure.
The message does not provide further details. However, the meeting took place shortly after the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, transformed into law, the “Political Commitment for an Inclusive National Dialogue”, a document signed on 5 March by President Daniel Chapo and nine political parties.
This document supposedly opens the way for wide-ranging reforms including constitutional amendments and changes to the electoral legislation. Also to be discussed in the dialogue are such matters as tax reforms, the system of justice and modernisation of the public administration.
The technical commission for implementing the agreement on “inclusive national political dialogue” 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 tiny organisations that most Mozambicans have never heard of.
(AIM)
Ad/pf (265)
