CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF MOZAMBIQUE

INSTITUTE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

DEGREE IN HISTORY TEACHING

Prospects and challenges of the next municipal elections in Mozambique

Student: Diolinda João Dos Reis

Code: 708232954

Course: History teaching

Subject: English I

Year of Attendance: 1st Year

The Tutor: Nelson Moda

Milange, September 2023

Index
Introduction 3

I.I. Research Objectives...............................................................................................................3

I.II. General Objective..............................................................................................................3

I.III. Specific Objectives..........................................................................................................3

I.IV. Methodology Used……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

1. Political Context...........................................................................................................................4

1.1. Local Elections in Mozambique...............................................................................................5

2. Prospects and challenges of the next municipal elections in Mozambique.................................5

2.1. Perspectives:..........................................................................................................................5

2.2. Challenges:............................................................................................................................6

II. Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7

III. Bibliographic references............................................................................................................8

 I. Introduction
Around 1/3 of Mozambican voters are expected to vote on October 11th this year to elect
the heads of local authority bodies. Elections are an opportunity to deepen democracy by
giving citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders. During election times, political
power tends to increase control and condition the work of State institutions, media bodies
and civil society. In extreme cases, there are murders of activists and election observers,
as seen in the case of Anastácio Matavel killed by police officers on the eve of the
elections, a situation that negatively affected election observation in the critical province
of Gaza.
In this work, I will address the prospects and challenges of the next municipal elections in
Mozambique.

I.I. Research Objectives

I.II. General Objective

 Know the prospects and challenges of the next municipal elections in

Mozambique.

I.III. Specific Objectives

 Identify the prospects for the next municipal elections in Mozambique.

 Characterize the challenges of the next municipal elections in Mozambique.

I.IV. Methodology Used

This research was carried out formally, in order to understand and analyze the general objective
explained. A bibliographic survey was carried out, which included books and articles related to
the topic, with the aim of presenting relevant topics for the study.

According to Severino (2007), bibliographic research concerns the collection of information

from an available record, resulting from previous research, which makes use of data or
theoretical categories already carried out, providing a basis for the study.
 1. Political Context

The Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) and the Mozambican National Resistance
(Renamo) remain the country’s main political forces, followed by the Mozambique Democratic
Movement (MDM). Frelimo won in a landslide in both the 2019 presidential and legislative
elections, securing a two-thirds majority in the national assembly. Frelimo also won provincial
elections, held for the first time in the same year, thus appointing governors in all the country’s
10 provinces. The last municipal elections took place in 2018. Frelimo came up largely
victorious in these too, winning 44 out of 53 cities and towns across the country. Renamo won
eight municipalities in the central and northern, most populous provinces, while MDM retained
its stronghold in the strategic, central port city of Beira. Mozambique will hold its sixth
municipal elections in October 2023, marking the beginning of another electoral cycle that will
culminate in the presidential, legislative, and provincial elections a year later in October 2024.

District elections, initially planned for 2024, are in doubt. As part of the peace deal to end
hostilities with Renamo, and which constituted a condition for Renamo’s military wing
disarmament (the Demobilization Disarmament and Reintegration [DDR]), an amendment to the
constitution introduced elections at the district level for 2024. However, in December 2022,
during his annual briefing at the Assembly of the Republic, the president of the republic
announced the creation of a consultative group to assess the feasibility of district elections.

The Government pledges to complete its DDR efforts of Renamo’s residual forces. The DDR
process has made substantial progress albeit at a slower pace. It is estimated that it has now
reached over 80% of its completion rate, paving the way for a definitive peace and an effective
end to hostilities and attacks, mostly against civilians, perpetrated by Renamo's residual forces
over the years in the central region of Mozambique.

Mozambique is still grappling with a military insurgency in parts of the gas-rich province of
Cabo-Delgado; the four-year conflict has caused an estimated 4,000 deaths and displaced nearly
one million people. About four million people are likely to face high levels of food insecurity as
a result of the combined effects of climate shocks and the conflict, which is also threatening the
economic potential of lucrative Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) investments in the area. The arrival
of regional troops has helped stabilize the situation to a degree. The government approved a
reconstruction plan for the province, as well as the Programa de Resiliência e Desenvolvimento
Integrado do Norte de Moçambique (PREDIN). The latter is a short- to medium-term approach
to conflict prevention and conflict mitigation, social cohesion, and resilience, intended for Cabo
Delgado, Niassa, and Nampula provinces.

Challenges related to civic voice remain. The civic space in Mozambique has gone from
“obstructed” to “repressive,” according to the latest CIVICUS Monitor Report. The Freedom
House (2020) classified Mozambique as partly free since 1994, while the Economist Intelligence
Unit (2020) notes in its Democracy Index 2019 report that Mozambique is slipping from a hybrid
to an authoritarian system based on indicators for electoral process and pluralism, functioning of
Government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.

1.1. Local Elections in Mozambique

Local elections in Mozambique are local elections that take place every five years. The last
election took place in 2018 and the next ones are scheduled for October 11, 2023.

Local elections are important because they allow citizens to elect their local representatives, who
are responsible for the governance and administration of municipalities, cities and towns across
the country.

Political formations already know their positions in the Voting Bulletin and Airtime in public
broadcasting bodies. The three main parties with seats in Parliament, Frelimo, Renamo and
MDM, submitted their candidacies for the local elections. Political parties are betting on young
candidates for local elections, which could bring new energy and perspective to local
governance.

However, local elections in Mozambique face challenges, such as political violence, a lack of
transparency in elections and the need for adequate training for candidates. The EU has already
suggested that minutes of the results at polling stations should be published immediately. The
decision was taken at Tuesday's (22.03) meeting of the Council of Ministers, following a
proposal from the Mozambican National Elections Commission (CNE).

After the data has been marked, the electoral commissions in the provinces and districts will be
activated with the aim of preparing the entire process.
As in 2018, data from the last local councils, voting will take place on a Wednesday.

2. Prospects and challenges of the next municipal elections in Mozambique.

2.1. Perspectives:

The main prospects for local elections in Mozambique include:

 Political parties are betting on young candidates for local elections, which could bring
new energy and perspective to local governance
 The UNDP Democracy and Elections project is being developed based on the formal
request of the Government of Mozambique, the recommendation of the European Union
Electoral Observation Mission and financial support from the European Union. This may
indicate a government commitment to ensuring fair and transparent elections.
 The Electoral Administration Technical Service (STAE) is debating best internal and
external communication practices for elections, which can help ensure greater
transparency and public involvement.

It is important to highlight that Mozambique has faced challenges in its democracy, including
political violence and a lack of transparency in elections. This could affect public confidence in
local elections. Furthermore, candidates need to be trained long before they are placed in front of
major governance challenges. If candidates are not adequately prepared, this can affect the
quality of local governance. The National Elections Commission is expected to announce the
party list leaders for the October 11 local elections this week, which could generate tensions and
disputes between political parties.

2.2. Challenges:

The main challenges for local elections in Mozambique include:

 Political violence has been a problem in Mozambique, and the Institute for Multiparty
Democracy (IMD) warns of the risk of extreme violence in five provinces of the country.
This could affect voter security and election integrity.
 The lack of transparency in elections is also a challenge in Mozambique. This could
affect public confidence in local elections.
  Candidates need to be trained long before they are placed in front of major governance
challenges. If candidates are not adequately prepared, this can affect the quality of local
governance.
 The National Elections Commission is expected to announce the party list leaders for the
October 11 local elections this week, which could generate tensions and disputes between
political parties.
 Electoral violence on the Island of Mozambique is at alarming levels, mostly carried out
by party members and supporters. This could affect voter security and election integrity.

Mozambique has faced challenges to its democracy, including political violence and a lack of
transparency in elections. This could affect public confidence in local elections.

Finally, it is important that there is greater awareness among parties of the need to avoid acts of
violence during elections
II. Conclusion
Holding elections should be an opportunity to consolidate democracy, allowing citizens to
participate politically in choosing their leaders. However, as demonstrated in the text, in a
context of endemic corruption and authoritarian governance, elections carry a series of risks. The
text showed that holding elections could result in various economic, political and even security
risks. Elections can be used as an opportunity to embezzle State funds in a variety of ways, as
well as leading to increased repression of fundamental freedoms and even the murder of political
activists and the manipulation of democratic institutions to fraudulently win elections.
III. Bibliographic references

Ufen, A. et al. (2015) Financing of political parties and electoral campaigns a manual

8 World Bank (2022). Global Economic Prospects, January 2023. Washington, DC: World
Bank. doi:10.1586/978-1-4648-1906-3.

Morgan. J. T. (2023) Perspectives and challenges of local elections in Mozambique.