UntitledOverview
In December 1999 Mozambique
held its second national elections. They
were the most competitive elections Mozambique
has ever experienced. President Joaquim
Chissano won re-election by a small margin
(less than 5%). FRELIMO retained its majority
in parliament, winning 133 seats in the
250-seat assembly. The remaining 117 seats
went to the opposition coalition of RENAMO-UE.
The campaign period was characterized
by a flurry of activity. The parties articulated
specific policy platforms that focused
on economic and social development, demonstrating
that the country has moved beyond the
mentality that characterized political
thought during the civil war. The parties
actively campaigned by holding public
rallies around the country and seeking
media coverage for their platforms and
issues.
The impression of both domestic and international
monitors was that the balloting was well
administered. However, there were some
logistical problems and irregularities,
particularly during the counting process.
Though the balloting was generally applauded,
the results were contested by the RENAMO-UE
coalition, who alleged that significant
fraud occurred in the counting process.
RENAMO-EU demanded a recount or new elections,
and threatened the establishment of a
parallel government. The government remained
steadfast in its position that the elections
were fair. The prolonged controversy over
the election results has caused considerable
tension and threatened to undermine substantial
gains in the country's democratic development.
Past Mozambique Program
In September of 1998, NDI began a program
to strengthen the institutional capacity
of political parties and independent political
movements in Mozambique. NDI worked closely with FRELIMO, RENAMO,
UD, and PCN, as well as four local independent
political movements. The program was designed
to strengthen sustainable democratic practices
and institutional capabilities. The objectives
included the encouragement of accountability,
transparency, and responsiveness to members
within political parties; increased organizational
skills and capacities in political parties,
enabling them to compete and participate
effectively in the democratic political
order; facilitating the formation of linkages
among parties and political organizations;
and the renewal of constructive political
dialogue between political parties and
civil society. NDI worked with Mozambican
civic organizations to organize forums
that will facilitate a national political
dialogue.
Mozambique Program History
NDI began working with Mozambican democrats in 1991. NDI's experience
in Mozambique began with a Voter Education
program leading up to national elections
in 1994. Following the elections, NDI
conducted civic education training for
Mozambican citizens, eventually expanding
its program throughout the country. In
addition, NDI conducted a six-month Constituency
Outreach program in 1996 for Mozambican
parliamentarians and conducted a series
of public forums throughout the country,
bringing representatives and their constituents
together to have a dialogue about issues
of local and national importance. In August
of 1997, NDI's national network of civic
education trainers formed the Mozambican
Association for the Development of Democracy
(AMODE). In October of the same year NDI
began a capacity building program with
AMODE and helped coordinate AMODE's Voter
Education program to promote participation
in local elections.
Contact Information
For more information on NDI's work in Southern and East Africa, please contact:
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