Who cares about the constitution?
Who cares about the constitution?
Mozambicans look to the constitution as the ultimate defender of their rights — but their rulers treat it with far less respect
Mozambique’s constitution is being talked about a lot these days. The constitution allows for freedom of assembly; the police, it is alleged, violated the constitution by breaking up marches for Azagaia on Saturday. The think tank CIP is now suing the Mozambican state, alleging violation of the constitution, and of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, of which Mozambique is a signatory.
The constitution also provides for district administrators to be elected, at the country’s general elections next year. Frelimo doesn’t want them to go ahead, it explained to parliament this week; but in any case it wants an extension of the deadline by which the elections need to be set in stone, from April to July. As we pointed out yesterday, and CIP’s election bulletin agrees today, that will allow Frelimo to alter the constitution without the cooperation of opposition parties — making Renamo’s statement yesterday, that it will continue to contest the cancellation of district elections, more or less irrelevant.
At the popular level, there is strong respect for the constitution. Mozambicans look to it as the ultimate defender of their rights. And they are aghast at the cavalier way in which it is being violated, and will now be changed, just five years after the last change — and to undo changes that were made in 2018 as a result of a lengthy peace process.
Sadly there is little chance that CIP’s brave legal action will lead anywhere. For Mozambique’s rulers, the constitution is clearly optional. Mozambicans are a deferential bunch — popular demonstrations and protests are rare, and the organisers of these latest marches did everything they could to respect the authorities. But that social contract is in danger of being broken.
Agenda:
Today: Mozambique's main business association, CTA, holds Economic Briefing, in which it will present the business strength index, a document monitoring business trends in Mozambique
Today: Council of Ministers weekly meeting
Today: Second of four days of the official visit of the President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, Ahmed Jarwan
From the Zitamar Live Blog:
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The NGO and think tank CIP is taking legal action against the Mozambican state and the police force, over the police violence against people attempting to march in Mozambican cities on Saturday 18 March
Also in the news:
Let institutions do their job, says Celso Correia on police violence
Renamo leader says persecution of demobilised members in Tete is increasing
Government wants speed up Ressano Garcia railway upgrade
Mozambique to send 40,000 litres of fuel to aid Malawi relief effort
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