General Elections 86 – 25 October 2019
“Our conscience demands that we not subscribe to this scandal. We cannot in good faith, loyalty to the law and patriotic sense approve this political farce,” say the eight members of the National Elections Commission who today (Friday 25 Ocotber) voted against approving the election results. “We reject these results because they do not faithfully reflect popular will.”
However the election was approved by the Frelimo-aligned majority, with the chair, Sheik Abul Carimo, casting the key vote in favour.
The eight members of the CNE who voted against accepting the results say the CNE “continues to commit unconstitutionalities by omission by not fully fulfilling its constitutional role.” The CNE failed to supervise the provincial and district election commissions and allowed them to act in a biased way.
“Because of various unconstitutional and illegal manoeuvres, the National Election Commission has no real possibility of complying with its constitutional and legal obligations and is therefore unable ensure a fair electoral process with results that are accepted by all.”
The law says that observers and party delegates “must” be issued credentials, yet this was not done. And in many places the selections of presidents and vice-presidents of polling stations was made in an improper and political way, without properly consulting deputy directors of STAE appointed by the opposition.
“In many districts the instructions of the National Election Commission was simply ignored, which demonstrates the existence of civil servants and election officials not interested in the transparency and integrity of the process, preferring to obey other commands from outside the electoral bodies.”
For the CNE to say that the illegalities must be treated by the legal system and Constitutional Council is simply to wash our hands of the issue like Pontius Pilate, the eight say. The electoral law does not take away the responsibility of the CNE.
Finally, the eight call for an urgent debate on a new electoral management system, to replace the dual system of CNE and STAE. “Electoral management bodies cannot continue to be the source of post-election conflicts due to their evident bias and intentional disorganization”
The Declaration of Vote of the 8 (in Portuguese) is on http://bit.ly/DV-CNE-2019
