Maputo — Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano on Thursday urged members of the National Elections Commission (CNE) to act with impartiality and transparency, and to understand that they are an integral part of the state.
Chissano was speaking after swearing into office the 18 CNE members elected by the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic.
"The object of the CNE's activity is state power itself, through the processes which lead to the renewal or succession of the main sovereign bodies", stressed Chissano.
It is the CNE that must supervise the municipal elections of 2003, and the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2004.
Referring to the problems that past CNEs have faced, Chissano said "we must recognise that the building of a commission that really does supervise elections has run into some difficulties because of understandings that sometimes clash with universally established principles". He noted that there has been a major innovation in the way the CNE is selected. This time the CNE chairperson is to be an independent figure, chosen by civil society. Civil society organisations are to put names forward, and the other members of the CNE then choose from among them.
Chissano urged the 18 CNE members sworn into office "to work immediately on defining the profile of the CNE chairperson, the requirements, conditions and rules of eligibility, and to ensure the correct participation of civil society. This requires rapid publication of the announcement within the legally defined time span".
He stressed that the chairperson must lead the CNE with independence, objectivity, competence and zeal, and must "guarantee obedience only to the constitution and to the laws".
In fact, civil society has not bothered waiting for any formal announcement. Meetings have been held throughout the country, and one consensual candidate has emerged: Dinis Sengulane, Anglican bishop of the Libombos diocese.
But Sengulane has said he does not want the post. Unless he can be persuaded to change his mind, the CNE will have to look to rather more controversial figures for its chairperson. The names most frequently mentioned are Salomao Moyana, director of the independent weekly "Zambeze", and Alice Mabota, chairperson of the Mozambican Human Rights League (LDH).
The 18 other CNE members were elected in proportion to the number of seats held by each political force in the Mozambican parliament. In reality, 10 members were appointed by the majority Frelimo Party, and eight by the Renamo-Electoral Union opposition coalition.
Those appointed by Frelimo are: Antonio Muacorica, Antonio Chipanga, Filipe Mandlate, Isidora Faztudo, Jose Grachane, Angelica Salomao, Paulus Gerdes, Percina Sitoe, Rogerio Utui, and Rufino Nombora.
The eight Renamo appointees are: Francisco Marcelino (better known by his nom-de-guerre of Jose de Castro), Antonio Mthini, Guimaraes Junior, Izequiel Gusse, Joao Cazonda, Maria Inacio, Maria Macuacua and Tome Fernando.
In addition, the government has appointed jurist Machatine Munguambe as a non-voting member of the CNE. He is supposed to ensure liaison between the CNE and other state structures.
