Maputo — Mozambican civil society organisations who wish to propose candidates for the post of chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), the body that will supervise this year's municipal elections and the 2004 general elections, have until 20 January to do so.
The other 18 members of the CNE (ten chosen by the ruling Frelimo party, and eight by the Renamo-Electoral Union opposition coalition) published on Saturday the procedures that must be followed by would-be candidates.
They must be presented by a recognised civil society organisation (defined as a private, non-profit making body). This includes trade unions, professional associations, religious organisations, human rights bodies, and local NGOs.
It specifically excludes public bodies, any part of the state apparatus, companies, and any organisation set up to make a profit for its members. Also excluded are any foreign NGOs working in Mozambique.
Candidates must be over 25 years old. They must never have been expelled from the state apparatus, or been sentenced to a prison term of two years or more. Anybody with political responsibilities in the state, from President of the Republic right down to chief of an administrative post, or member of a municipal assembly, is ineligible for the post, as are diplomats, serving members of the armed forces, or people in leading positions in political parties.
Each candidate must submit photocopies of his or her identity card, criminal record and curriculum vitae, plus the duly signed minutes of the meeting of the civil society organisation that elected them, and an authenticated copy of the statutes of the organisation.
A further superfluous bit of paper demanded from candidates is a signed "pledge of honour", in which they declare that they have never been expelled or compulsively retired from the civil service, and pledge "to exercise the position with independence, objectivity, impartiality, competence and zeal". This declaration must bear "a legible signature" and be recognised by a public notary.
The candidatures must be sent in a sealed envelope to the CNE by 20 January, and will be opened the following day. After knocking out any candidates whose papers are not in order, the CNE will then choose a chairman from among the others, by consensus if possible, by majority vote if not.
The likelihood of civil society bodies notifying their members and holding meetings within the space of a few days in mid-January (the main holiday month), and then going through all the bureaucratic paces to obtain the documentation necessary approaches zero.
Fortunately, serious civil society organisations have already held their meetings, without waiting for the other 18 members of the CNE, and already have candidates ready. The two front runners are the chairperson of the Human Rights League (LDH), Alice Mabota, and the editor of the independent weekly "Zambeze", Salomao Moyana.
