Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has delivered on his promise to establish a commission to reflect on the “pertinence” of holding district elections slated for 2024, albeit more than three months later.
Dubbed Commission for Reflection (CRED), the consultative body is expected to advise the government on whether the district should be held or not.
The issue of district elections was agreed upon by Nyusi and Afonso Dhlakama, the late president of the main opposition party, Renamo, and was included in the amendments to the Constitution passed in 2018.
In December 2022, speaking in this annual State of the Nation address to the Assembly of the Republic, Mozambique’s parliament Nyusi questioned the viability of holding the district elections in 2024, and promised the setting-up of a commission to reflect on the pertinence of such elections.
Amid disagreements, with Renamo and Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) argue that the elections must go on, especially because they are written in the Constitution.
It is likely that the ruling Frelimo party will use its parliamentary majority to amend the Constitution and either scrap the district elections altogether or postpone them – but Frelimo does not seem to have any appetite for the latter scenario.
Meanwhile, CRED will comprise the ministers of Justice, Economy and Finance, and State Administration, with the Justice Minister leading proceedings.
It will also integrate “cadres of recognised competence and experience of local governance and public finance,” as well as members from civil society and academics with relevance experience in the fields of public administration, decentralisation and constitutional and administrative law, according to a Council of Ministers resolution.
CRED will have 15 days to wrap-up its work and submit a report to government.
Comment
Analysts have pointed out that CRED was established to rubber stamp the President’s decision. It so happens that Nyusi has already shown his cards: he does not see the relevance of holding such elections.
Consequently, it is difficult to fathom a different outcome than the President’s wishes. This is not a commission that results from any doubts but a deep-seated belief that the holding of district elections is not pertinent.
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