Mozambique: Sweden provides $13M for Renamo disarmament
Mozambique: Political agreement going to Parliament on Wednesday foresees revision of Constitution, presidential powers
5:42 CAT | 01 Apr 2025
File photo: Savana
A political agreement under discussion aimed at bringing peace to Mozambique after months of protests provides for the revision of the country’s Constitution and changes to the powers of the president, as well as pardons for those convicted for acts during post-poll unrest, according to legislation to be debated in Parliament on Wednesday.
At issue is the bill on the Political Commitment for an Inclusive National Dialogue, based on the agreement between the head of state, Daniel Chapo, and several political parties, signed on 5 March and submitted to Parliament for urgent consideration.
By a decision made today by the Parliament’s Standing Commission, consideration of this draft bill is scheduled for Wednesday, starting at 9 a.m.
The preamble to the bill, to which Lusa has had access, notes that Mozambique “faces political, economic and social challenges characterised by the lack of integrity in the electoral process, as well as the high cost of living, unemployment, insufficient housing and quality education, corruption” – and that since 1994, despite there having been regular elections, “cases of violence and other irregularities” are usually recorded.
“These problems require courageous, robust and innovative decisions from all of us in order to create credible institutions and a decision-making process that is more participatory, inclusive and subject to clearer, more transparent and predictable rules,” the text continues. “It’s time to leave behind our party-political differences, putting the interests of Mozambique and Mozambicans at the forefront.”
Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognise the official results of the 9 October general elections and who called many of the protests and demonstrations that over five months have claimed around 360 lives, mainly in clashes with the police, was not involved in the agreement. However, on 23 March, Mondlane and Chapo met for the first time and made a commitment to work to stop the violence in the country.
“In the spirit of humanism and national reconciliation, the signatory parties recognise the importance of granting a pardon to certain citizens convicted in the context of the 2024 elections and the violent demonstrations, under the terms to be set by presidential decree,” reads the clause on interim provisions, which covers “citizens convicted up to the date of entry into force.”
It adds: “The pardon must be decreed after the publication of this compromise in the Official Gazette.”
The signatories of the agreement also undertake to “refrain from actions that in any way violate this political commitment” or legislation or other agreements.
The stated purpose of the draft law is to “establish the principles and guidelines for an inclusive national dialogue” and “establish agreements on aspects of constitutional revision and governance.”
Within the scope of constitutional reform, three objectives are set out, starting with “reform of the State” – including measures at the level of the “political system, the powers of the President…, de-partisanship of state institutions, decentralisation and political, economic and financial deconcentration.”
It also includes the “reform of the justice system” – namely the “mechanism for appointing the heads of justice bodies and their financial and administrative independence” – and the “reform of the electoral system” – in this case with the “definition of a new model, composition of electoral administration bodies, electoral legislation, electoral justice bodies.”
The bill included the creation of a 21-member committee of experts – 18 chosen by the parties and three appointed by civil society – to put these measures into effect, with a proposed budget of 91,471,200 meticais (€1.3 million), more than half of which is for attendance fees, and with funds to be provided by the government and the parties.
The agreement includes a “tax reform” that is to include value-added tax, and the approval of laws on referendum and popular initiatives.
READ: Mozambique’s Inclusive Political Dialogue: More than $1.4 million for Technical Committee – Carta
Source: Lusa
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.