The district elections fight continues

How much democracy is too much democracy?

Good afternoon. With new voices adding to the chorus of support for holding district elections, President Nyusi is offering his own view. He is not firmly against them, but argues people should not be afraid of discussing the pros and cons of a political exercise which most people agree is fraught with uncertainty.

Nyusi is sending five new emissaries to the provinces as secretaries of state, replacing officials whose main ‘sin’ was struggling to interpret their duties in relation to those of the elected governors. Nyusi avoided this debate, arguing instead that fresh blood is needed to prepare for the next electoral cycle — as if the duty of a state official is to behave as a political commissar, a throwback to the era of the one-party state. 

Yes, holding district elections would respect the constitution and the agreement reached with Renamo, but it is clear to everyone that there will be problems ahead concerning their implications for the central and provincial government. The strident support now coming to the fore for more decentralisation smacks of a political move to avoid the constitution being opened for debate — risking other taboo items such as a third mandate for the current head of state.

Municipal elections will take place later this year, but there will be plenty of debates surrounding the battles for the districts, provinces, and the national vote for president. Frelimo needs to decide what weight it will give to the unwritten rule that it is the turn of the centre of the country to provide the president, or whether that can be ignored.

We will have plenty of those debates and skirmishes in the interesting times ahead.

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Agenda:

• Tomorrow: The Bank of Mozambique’s Monetary Policy Committee to hold its first meeting of the year

  • Standard Bank said today it expects the main policy rate, MIMO, to be kept on hold at 17.25%

• Tomorrow: Greece's foreign minister Nikos Dendias to visit Maputo 

• Tomorrow-Thursday: President Nyusi to visit Senegal, to meet President Macky Sall and attend the Dakar Summit on Agriculture and Agribusiness

• Tomorrow-Thursday: US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield to Travel to Ghana, Mozambique, and Kenya

  • “In Mozambique, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will highlight our strong partnership and welcome Mozambique to a historic first term on the UN Security Council. The Ambassador will also meet with UN officials, alumni of U.S. exchange programs, students, and members of civil society, including those engaged in climate change adaptation measures in Mozambique”

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💥 Conflict updates:

19 January 2023: Namacule, Muidumbe district, Cabo Delgado
Local Forces killed six insurgents while on patrol around the village of Namacule in southern Muidumbe. 

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Also in the news / Today’s headlines:

• Starlink to launch in Mozambique by second quarter of 2023

• Eni seeks partner for biofuel and charcoal production (Notícias)

• Nyusi says it is ridiculous to reject debate on district elections (MediaFax)

• Commission formed to investigate fuel spill in Beira (Notícias)

Today’s front pages in Maputo. Photo © Faizal Chauque / Zitamar News