5 November 2008
Maputo — We'll vote for you, if you can convince us you'll keep your promises - that was the message that some stallholders in the market in the Maputo suburb of Malanga had for Eduardo Namburete, candidate for mayor of Maputo for the former rebel movement Renamo, on the second day of campaigning for the municipal elections scheduled for 19 November.
Namburete went chasing votes from market to market on Wednesday, expressing his sympathy for the sellers who bombarded him with complaints. At Malanga they told him the market suffers from poor security, no running water, no electricity and no bathrooms.
"This is sad", he declared. "Only people who are insensitive would not be concerned with these problems. I don't see how market fees can be charged without, for example, building bathrooms".
"I am your son, I cannot mistreat you", Namburete promised the stallholders. He told them that their lives would only improve, if a Renamo administration was installed in the city council.
When sceptical listeners asked where he would find the money to make good on his promises, Namburete replied there was no reason for lack of basic infrastructure in the markets, because the City Council collects fees from the stallholders every day.
"It's very possible to build bathrooms with the money collected in this market", he insisted.
In the neighbouring city of Matola, the Renamo candidate for mayor, Jose Samo Gudo, promised transparent management of the municipality and a fight against corruption, should he win the election.
In the Matola neighbourhood of Zona Verde, Samo Gudo told reporters that he had the experience, maturity and honesty to deal with the problems facing the city. He stressed in particular the need to resolve Matola's water supply problems.
Even in the urban heart of Matola water "does not flow all day", he said. "In the semi-urban area, some neighbourhoods have piped water but the water pressure is low, and so it doesn't reach the consumers. In the rural area, there are a series of standpipes, but most of them don't work".
Both Namburete and Samo Gudo face an uphill struggle. In the 2003 elections, the candidates of the ruling Frelimo Party won 75 per cent of the vote in Maputo, and 88 per cent in Matola.
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