VZCZCXRO3907
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0714/01 2050706
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230706Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9163
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0206

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000714 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AN ACCURATE GAUGE OF 
DEMOCRACY IN MOZAMBIQUE? 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Members of Mozambican political parties 
and civil society met in early July to review preparations 
for the November 19 municipal elections.   The participants 
identified three elements critical to the success of the 
elections:  transparency in the election process, party 
control of members, and independent media coverage. 
Participants also discussed the electoral dominance of 
FRELIMO and the lack of voter connection to national 
representatives as explanations for the significant decrease 
in voter participation in national elections.  The November 
municipal elections should serve as a realistic referendum on 
how Mozambicans view the Guebuza administration.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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TRANSPARENCY ESSENTIAL 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Mozambique will hold elections in all of its 43 
municipalities on November 19: this will be the first local 
election held in the 10 new municipalities created by the 
National Assembly in April.  In early July, numerous 
representatives of Mozambique's political parties, electoral 
bodies, universities, religious leaders, and the media 
gathered to review preparations for the municipal elections. 
Hoping to assure that electoral results are peacefully 
accepted, the attendees urged the National Electoral 
Committee (CNE) to operate openly: the CNE was roundly 
criticized for its closed process in the previous election, 
especially for its refusal to publicize its criteria for 
determining the validity of vote tally sheets.  Participants 
also called for more transparency in tabulating votes, 
including the use of independent observers, as well as public 
prosecution of those committing voting irregularities. 
(Note: During the 2003 local elections, judicial authorities 
did not prosecute FRELIMO or RENAMO party members caught 
manipulating vote tallies and stuffing ballot boxes.  End 
note.)  The restructuring of the Technical Secretariat for 
Electoral Administration (STAE) earlier this year--removing 
political appointees and replacing them with neutral 
professionals--was viewed as supportive of transparency, 
although some critics alleged that STAE had failed to conduct 
voter registration in some areas supportive of RENAMO. 
 
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VIOLENCE MUST BE MINIMIZED 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Referring to a history of threats and burning of 
opponents' homes, participants called on FRELIMO and RENAMO 
to take measures to ensure that their members refrain from 
acts of violence.  Noted journalist Salomao Moyana recalled a 
tour of the country in which he found such strong political 
rivalries between FRELIMO and RENAMO supporters that party 
activists and even members of the police threatened 
opposition-party politicians with violence or death should 
they hold rallies on FRELIMO turf.  Other participants urged 
that political parties educate members on constitutionally 
protected rights, such as the freedom of expression and the 
freedom to exercise political rights, noting that these 
rights are not well known outside of Maputo. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, CAMPAIGN FINANCING ESSENTIAL 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4.  (U) Participants generally agreed that an independent 
media is critical to transparent, acceptable elections.  Some 
suggested independent funding for the media, particularly 
since the current practice of candidates paying members of 
the media to accompany during campaigning can affect media 
independence.  Others alleged that, although Mozambican law 
requires state sponsored media to be neutral, the state-owned 
daily newspaper, radio, and television stations give more 
extensive and favorable coverage to FRELIMO.  The head of a 
small opposition party called for state financing for all 
political parties as a way of increasing choices for the 
electorate, adding that state support for the campaigns of 
only FRELIMO and RENAMO had contributed to the bipolarization 
of Mozambican politics and accelerated the trend towards a 
one-party system. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
VOTER TURNOUT IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS DECREASING 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5.  (U) Participants noted with concern the decrease in the 
number of registered voters voting in national elections: in 
the country's first national elections, held in 1994, 87% of 
eligible voters voted.  In 1999 69% voted and in 2004 only 
36% of those eligible voted.  The primary factors in the 
rapid decrease in participation were deemed to be loss of 
 
MAPUTO 00000714  002 OF 002 
 
 
interest in the national elections due to one-party 
domination and lack of relationship to those elected.  The 
director of the Mozambican chapter of the Media Institute of 
Southern Africa suggested that a more independent and 
better-funded press could better inform voters, resulting in 
greater electoral participation. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
COMMENT: LOCAL ELECTIONS BETTER REFLECT NATIONAL FEELING? 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) The development of democracy in Mozambique may be 
more accurately observed in the municipal elections than in 
the national elections.  A personal knowledge of the 
candidates creates a feeling of ownership of the process, a 
purpose for participation, and some sense of accountability. 
The national elections, dominated since independence by 
FRELIMO, provide a slate of unknown candidates designated by 
the winning party and usually with no connection to their 
constituents.  Outside the capital, many citizens vote only 
because they are required to do so as a condition of their 
employment, or at the specific recommendation of their 
village elder.  As such, the November municipal elections 
should serve as a realistic referendum on how Mozambicans 
view the Guebuza administration. 
Chapman