Mozambican Civil Society Within: - UNICEF Mozambique - Home page
Mozambican Civil Society Within: - UNICEF Mozambique - Home page
Mozambican Civil Society Within: - UNICEF Mozambique - Home page
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<strong>Mozambican</strong> <strong>Civil</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>Within</strong>: Evaluation, Challenges, Opportunities and Action<br />
TABLE 3.2.1: Indicators for the Evaluation of the Political Context<br />
Ref. # Indicators Score<br />
2.1.1 Political Rights<br />
1<br />
2.1.2 Political Competition<br />
2<br />
2.1.3 Rule of Law<br />
1<br />
2.1.4 Corruption<br />
0<br />
2.1.5 State Effectiveness<br />
1<br />
2.1.6 Decentralization<br />
1<br />
3.2.1.1 Political Rights<br />
Since 1990 the constitution of the Republic of <strong>Mozambique</strong> has provided a favourable legal and<br />
institutional framework for fundamental political changes, including the introduction of a multiparty<br />
system, neo-liberal policies, freedom of expression and association. This represents<br />
some empowerment of citizens and more opportunity for intervention in decision-making and<br />
demanding accountability by leaders. 13<br />
At the moment citizens have the right to elect the President of the Republic and 33 municipality<br />
mayors through universal suffrage. There are, however, signs of apprehension about the current<br />
state of the political environment and civil society. Francisco and Matter call attention to the fact<br />
that the citizen has direct voting power over less than 5% of bodies (President of the Republic<br />
and Municipality Mayors), while the remaining 95% of opportunities for exercising the vote are<br />
delegated to the parties and to presidents who appoint the members of the executive and other<br />
administrative bodies.<br />
In the 2007 Freedom in the World Report http://www.freedomhouse.org <strong>Mozambique</strong> was<br />
considered a partially free country with a score of 3 in the human rights item and 4 for civil<br />
liberties 14 . It is felt that citizens enjoy moderate political rights and partial opportunities for political<br />
participation. However the report calls attention to corruption levels, violence and human rights<br />
abuses.<br />
(http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/ccr/country-7236-8.pdf<br />
13<br />
Francisco e Matter (2007)note that this concept cannot be translated directly into Portuguese and in many instances the result is misunderstanding of its true meaning.<br />
14<br />
On a descending scale of 1 to 7, where 1 represents the best possible score.<br />
<strong>Civil</strong> <strong>Society</strong> Index, <strong>Mozambique</strong> 2007<br />
47
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