Thursday, 18 February 2010

MOZAMBIQUE 155 News reports & clippings

15 February 2010
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Editor: Joseph Hanlon (j.hanlon@open.ac.uk)
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NOTE OF EXPLANATION:
This mailing list is used to distribute two publications,
both edited by Joseph Hanlon. As well as the
Mozambique Political Process Bulletin, published
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Joseph hanlon
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EU Election Observers
hit lack of transparency,
unlevel playing field


The 28 October 2009 elections were well organised and peaceful and largely guaranteed universal suffrage, reports the European Union Election Observation Mission. Fundamental freedoms and rights of assembly, expression and movement were respected.


Despite this, the broader electoral process was weakened by the lack of transparency by Mozambique’s electoral authorities, by an unlevel playing field during the electoral campaign and by limitations with regard to voter choice at local level. As in 2004, irregularities in counting, tabulation and aggregation were observed.


The EU Observer Mission also found:
+ Electoral "legislation is unclear and at times contradictory."
+ "Filing a complaint is de facto nearly impossible at every step of the electoral process."
+ "The presence of political party representatives at CNE maintains an unlevel playing field and an unequal access to information."


The full EU report is posted on the CIP election website, in English only. It is a large file: 3.25 MB.
http://www.cip.org.mz/election2009/ndoc2009/294_Final_Report_EU_EOM_en.pdf


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Mozambique: ‘the war ended
17 years ago, but we are still poor’


In a paper to be published in the March issue of the academic journal Conflict, Security & Development, I argue that Mozambique poses some stark questions for development cooperation. In particular, "Current economic management
strategies mean that a growing group of young people are leaving school with a basic education but no economic prospects. Will ‘marginal’ youth in towns and cities pose a threat of political and criminal violence? Can peace be built on poverty and rising inequality? Are elections and expanded schooling enough when there are no jobs?"


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Do bicycles equal development
in Mozambique?
by Joseph Hanlon & Teresa Smart
is only available direct from the publisher.
www.jamescurrey.co.uk
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Also on the web: Previous newsletters and other Mozambique material are posted on
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Mozambique media websites:
Noticias: www.jornalnoticias.co.mz
O Pais: www.opais.co.mz
Savana: www.savana.co.mz
Canal de Moçambique: www.canalmoz.com
AIM Reports: www.poptel.org.uk/mozambique-news
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This mailing is the personal responsibility of Joseph Hanlon, and does not necessarily represent the views of the Open University.
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