Mozambique Pushes for Peace

Mozambique’s lawmakers unanimously approved a landmark law this month intended to diffuse the crisis set off by last year’s disputed elections and promote political reconciliation and stability in the resource-rich country, Africanews reported.

The new measure would revise the constitution to restructure the state, depoliticize institutions, and decentralize political, economic, and financial authority. It would also weaken the president’s office.

Meanwhile, it will grant pardons to those arrested and convicted for taking part in the post-election protests.

The ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party – in power for the entire 49 years since the country’s independence from Portugal – emphasized its role in strengthening democracy and fostering trust between political actors.

All political parties in the country have approved the new measure.

The law is part of a peace agreement signed on March 5 between President Daniel Chapo and other political parties aimed at ending months of violent protests over last year’s election results led by independent presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, explained the Associated Press. More than 300 people died in the violent crackdown by the government amid more than five months of protests.

Chapo won the October vote in a landslide. Mondlane, who came in second, disputed the fairness of the vote as did other opposition parties and Western observers, according to the Guardian.

Despite the unanimous support given to the law, opposition parties expressed concerns about the timing and intent behind the initiative, with some accusing the government of pushing the law to stall for time while the state carries out further repression.