Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)

Mozambique: Frelimo Reiterates No Third Term for Guebuza

26 August 2010

Maputo — The secretary-general of the ruling Frelimo Party, Filipe Paunde, on Wednesday said nobody should doubt the assurances given by President Armando Guebuza that he will not run for a third term in 2014.

This was the reaction of Paunde following statements by party leaders that Frelimo is seeking to introduce new amendments to the Constitution, and that a public debate will soon be launched.

Speculation spread that the ruling party is seeking to amend Article 147, paragraph four, of Mozambique's Constitution to accommodate a third term for Armando Guebuza.

"President Guebuza has said on several occasions that he will not run for a third term. Do you doubt the words of the leader of a party as mature and organised as Frelimo?" asked Paunde during an interview to the paper "O Pais".

Paunde added that "a president of twenty-one odd million Mozambicans would never publicly say that he will not run again and fail to keep his word. I believe in my President, and I know he will keep his word".

Paunde refused to disclose which amendments Frelimo is seeking on the Constitution, arguing that this issue falls under the jurisdiction of the Frelimo parliamentarian group.

Tagged: Governance, Mozambique, Southern Africa

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  • !.3
    Aug 28 2010, 19:38
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    This is the problem with africa, when a President get into office, He won't leave. Thiis man said he will not run again, but want the constitution amended so a president can have a third term. If this is the case, what fool believe that he will not run again. if he has the opportunity. Listen, Mozamliquens, let him get out of office and then think about change. This process in not democratic, if you president is so good that you want him to stay in governemnt . THEN DO WHAT RUSSIA DID, PUTIN WAS PRESIDENT AND WAS VERY GOOD, SO THEY GAVE HIM A POSITION (NOT PRESIDENCY) WITH MORE POWERS.

    i AM SUGGESTING IF THE PRESIDENT WANT TO STAY IN THE GOVERNMENT THEN GIVE UP THE PRESIDENCY, AND ACCEPT ANOTHER POSITION, (SUCH AS PRIME MINISTER) AND EXPAND THE POWERS. THIS IS CERTAINLY THE WAY TO GO..

    If you keep changing your constitution then it becomes worthless and the people lose faith in it.