Maputo — Prominent journalist Salomao Moyana, one of the candidates defeated in last week's election of the chairperson of Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE), has thrown his weight behind the winner, Rev Arao Litsuri of the Mozambique Christian Council (CCM).

Moyana, who is director of the independent weekly "Zambeze", described the election of Litsuri as "the right choice, since he has proven to be a thoughtful person, with an open mind, and who works with dedication, zeal and competence".

Interviewed in Monday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias", Moyana said he had known Litsuri since 1973, when he was teaching French in a Maputo school. His relations with the Lutheran pastor had always been good, and he recalled that, in the years when he had edited another weekly, "Savana", he had often invited Litsuri to participate in workshops and seminars organised by the paper.

Moyana had no hard feelings about losing to Litsuri. "What's really happening is that for the first time civil society is directly involved in the electoral process, particularly in electing the head of the CNE, and that's very positive", he said.

"But everyone should understand that the process has only just begun. This participation by civil society must continue, collaborating with the CNE so that its work is just, impartial, transparent, and, above all, credible".

He hoped that the CNE would operate in an open fashion to provide a space for all Mozambicans interested in working for the success of the forthcoming municipal elections.

He pointed out that Litsuri became a candidate after another churchman, Anglican bishop Dinis Sengulane, had declined to stand. At the meetings of the Movement for Peace and Citizenship, Sengulane's name had been the most consensual. Only when the bishop made clear he was not available, were the names of Moyana, teacher Ana da Graca Ernesto, and human rights activist Alice Mabota, put forward.