Maputo, Mozambique — The Mozambican state does not sack any of its employees because of their political beliefs, the Minister of State Administration, Jose Chichava, declared Tuesday in Maputo.

He was addressing the country's parliament in response to a question from deputies of the Renamo-Electoral Union opposition coalition, who alleged that "mass sackings" of Renamo supporters had occurred in state institutions.

The question gave no specific examples, and did not name the state institutions supposedly involved in the dismissals.

Chichava replied "there have been no mass sackings at all, much less mass sackings of members of Renamo or of any other political party."

He pointed out that the rights and duties of those working in the state apparatus are regulated by the General Statute of State Functionaries (EGFE), and this document makes arbitrary dismissals impossible.

"Nobody can be dismissed or expelled from the state apparatus without the right to a hearing," said Chichava.

There has to be a proper disciplinary hearing and "nobody can be expelled just for being a member of a political party," he added.

Furthermore anybody who has suffered a disciplinary sanction, including dismissal, may appeal - and the appeal suspends implementation of the sanction.