4 September 2009
Maputo — The Maputo independent citizens' group Juntos Pela Cidade (JPC - Together for the City) on Thursday morning delivered its nomination papers for the November municipal elections to the Maputo headquarters of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), the electoral branch of the Mozambican civil service.
JPC leader Philippe Gagnaux told reporters that, unlike in the previous local elections (in 1998 and 2003), JPC is running no candidate for mayor of Maputo and will only stand for places in the municipal assembly. "We intend to win a majority in the municipal assembly", he declared.
The likelihood of such a victory is minimal. In 2003, JPC won eight per cent of the votes and five seats in the Assembly. The ruling Frelimo Party won 48 seats, with 76 per cent, and the former rebel movement Renamo picked up 13 per cent and eight seats.
JPC's decision not to field a candidate for mayor will come as a disappointment for those who wished to protest against Frelimo's refusal to run the current mayor, Eneas Comiche, for a second term of office, but who would never dream of voting for Renamo.
JPC is only the fourth organisation to submit nomination papers. The others are Frelimo (standing candidates in all 43 municipalities), the Mozambican Nationalist Movement, MONAMO (standing only in the northern town of Cuamba), and the Organisation of Nacala Independent Candidates (standing in the northern port of Nacala).
A STAE official told AIM he feared that STAE would be receiving "an avalanche" of nomination papers from other parties and independent groups on Friday, the last day for nominations.
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