NEWS SUMMARY. 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2009.

DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION
2009 Elections: CNE dialogues with African diplomats
The national law for the parliamentary elections and the provincial assemblies is based on an election list of candidates for each constituency and not the selection of an individual as such, which implies that if any list does not meet the requirements by law loses the right to be submitted to the popular vote.

This explanation was given yesterday in Maputo, to the ambassadors of African, Asian and Latin American countries accredited in Mozambique, by the President of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), Leopoldo da Costa, in a meeting requested by them to become aware of the national electoral process as a whole.
http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/890942



Elections: UN is closely monitoring the process of exclusion of parties
The UN says it is following closely the process of reviewing candidacies of Mozambican political parties excluded from the electoral race of 28 October. "We want transparent, free and inclusive elections", because "we are following it closely (the evaluation of the Constitutional Council) and we have to follow it closely," said UN Resident Coordinator in Mozambique, Ndolamb Ngokwey.http://www.clubofmozambique.com/pt/sectionnews.php?secao=mocambique&id=14161&tipo=one

International donors are not serious: says RENAMO
The party Renamo considers the reaction of the group of 19 countries and international organizations that has the support of the general budget of the Mozambican state, to the CNE decisions of excluding some political parties, as belated and strange. According to the Chief Electoral Office Party, Ivone Soares, these organizations have been "sitting idle” at times when in fact it required a strong intervention. This moment was one in which the RENAMO-Electoral Union proposed to the Assembly of the Republic to review the electoral package, and it was rejected by the majority Frelimo bench.Zambeze. 24th September, 2009.Administrator sends a citizen arrest for challenging the use of state resources in electoral campaign


The Human Rights League (LDH), in a statement, expressed its rejection of the arrest on 20 September 2009 of Julius Franque, act occurred in Tsangano, Tete province.

Franque was arrested on the orders of the district Administrator, Herculano Combe after he knew that that citizen had challenged the use of resources of state during the election campaign of Frelimo.
LDH says that the attitude of the Administrator violates freedom of expression of Mozambicans. This organization requires, therefore, the immediate and unconditional release of the citizen Julio Franque.
The LDH also states that this is not the first time that Herculano Combe orders to detain people without cause. In 2004, he had even threatened to halt some domestic election observers, accusing them of negative interference in the electoral process.http://www.savana.co.mz/mediafax/68-ultimas/1619-administrador-manda-deter-cidadao-


Suspected members of Renamo "expel" Mazanga of RENAMO
SMS sent by individuals who identify themselves as members of RENAMO, realize that Fernando Mazanga, spokesman for the party at national level, was suspended from Renamo. Add to the same SMS say that the suspension of Mazanga was decided by the "own leader of RENAMO as a result of trickery committed by Mazanga in the production of t-shirts for the electoral campaign." This information was categorically denied by Mazanga, as well as the Secretary-General of the party Renamo, Ossufo Momade. http://www.canalmoz.com/default.jsp?file=ver_artigo&nivel=1&id=6&idRec=6391
RENAMO accuses police of defending FRELIMO the region of Manica
Members and supporters of RENAMO accused the police of Tambara, Manica, of being only concerned with defending the interests of FRELIMO, the ruling party.
Tuesday, a group of about 15 people met with the police, to ask it to be impartial and to act in a way "to dignify the force of law."
Police deny the accusations and recognizes only two complaints so far sent to the command, being the same in the judicial bodies for legal proceedings. http://www.opais.co.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2762:renamo-acusa-policia-de-defender-frelimo-na-regiao-de-manica&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273

Administrator of Gurue closes Hostel to prevent Daviz Simango to stay.
The Administrator of Gurue district, in Zambezia province, had closed immediately a pension in where the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), Daviz Simango should stay. Reports say that the leader of MDM had to take refuge in the rectory at the local level.http://opais.sapo.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2760:administrador-de-gurue-manda-encerrar-pensao&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273


ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT
Vietnamese Company to invest in the gas sector in Mozambique
The company Petrovietnam has shown to be interested in investing in a pipeline in Mozambique as part of its strategic expansion in Africa. The Vietnamese National Company for Oil and Gas aims to invest $US85M in a project connected to the gas from Pande and Temane, in Inhambane province.

In Mozambique the gas is only operated in Pande and then sold to South Africa.
Arsenio Mabote, Chairman of the National Oil Institute of Mozambique said that by 2012 the Institute will launch tenders for oil and gas in the Rovuma in the north of Mozambique and in the central area of the country.http://www.clubofmozambique.com/pt/sectionnews.php?secao=mineracao&id=14160&tipo=oneNGO accuses government to adopt "wrong environmental policies"


The Mozambican Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Environmental Justice, Tuesday accused the Government of Mozambique to adopt "wrong environmental policies" by focusing attention on development, without regard to a balance with the social and economic issues.Anabela Lemos, Researcher of that NGO, expressed concerns the way that the Mozambican authorities have decided to follow, to achieve "development at any cost”. Lemos says that "in Mozambique, we are at risk with the issue of pollution, mining, and the impending oil exploration, which is starting, and projects of mega-dams. According to her, thinking only in mega-projects such as development solution is not the right way to walk, "he added.http://www.clubofmozambique.com/pt/sectionnews.php?secao=mocambique&id=14157&tipo=one


HUMAN RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND LEGAL AFFAIRS
Basic food for People living with HIV
Undernourished people living with HIV / AIDS who are on antiretroviral therapy and tuberculosis patients will be receiving a monthly set of basic foodstuffs.
This is a strategy of the Ministry of Health to be launched today in Maputo and which aims, among others, strengthen adherence to antiretroviral therapy and tuberculosis. The aim is also the initiative to prevent the patients from the protein-calorie malnutrition and deficiency of micronutrients. Initially, the strategy also aims to promote nutrition education will be implemented in all provincial offices and will gradually cover the whole patients in the country.http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/890949

Counterfeits in Commercial BanksCounterfeiting notes of the national currency, Metical, are cirrculating in the commercial banks of the country, as denounced by the morning of yesterday, the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM).
The first case comes from the province of Zambezia, where a national encountered, last Monday, with a case raising a false note of 500 Meticais in the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) of a commercial bank in Maganja da Costa.
According to Pedro Cossa, spokesman of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique in the General Command of the PRM, the case calls attention to the need for bank officials to observe, with greater expertise, the values that have been to be deposited by their customers.
Savana. 24th September, 2009.


Collaboration

Constancio Nguja - Translation
Constancio Nguja and Delfina Dança – Democracy, Governance and Corruption
Severino de Carvalho – Economics and Development
Delfina Dança – Human Rights, Justice and Legal Affairs
Celso Gusse – Executive Director of CEMO