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Mozambican Civil Society Within: Evaluation, Challenges, Opportunities and Action
3.2.1.2 Political Competition
The indicators seek to assess the quality of political competition in terms of the existence of a
democratic system, diversity across the ideologicalspectrum, the institutionalisation and public
credibility of parties, and the level of patronage practices.
In principle, the current legal system in Mozambique permits the creation of a multi-party system.
In the third general multi-party elections in December 2004, 25 parties competed for
parliamentary seats and there were eight presidential candidates (Hanlon and Nuvunga, 2004).
However, the role of the political parties is rarely felt outside the election period. In practice, a
two-party system predominates with the Frelimo party in power and the RENAMO party the
main opposition party.
With the exception of some municipalities, Mozambique has never experienced alternating
parties. However, perhaps an even greater concern is the big challenge of growing and
widespread abstention. Abstention is becoming the big challenge and test for political parties,
irrespective of whether they are in power or in opposition. Over the years, abstention has got
worse. In 2004 it reached around 70% or even higher in some parts of the country. The recent
electoral registration process was also marked by the spectre of absenteeism, to the extent
that it forced the majority political parties to agree on delaying the first provincial elections.
As regards political patronage various sources, both academic and journalistic, talk about
evidence of favouritism associated with party affiliation, especially the party in power (CEP
2001, 2003, Afrobarometer, 2003, 2005).
3.2.1.3 Rule of Law
Over the years various research sources have revealed little confidence in the way laws are
managed. In 2001 a national public opinion survey called attention to ignorance about some
state bodies or institutions such as the Supreme Court and trade unions. It also spoke of lack of
confidence in the political system because citizens’ rights are still not properly respected (CEP
2001).
In various studies the police appear as the entity that the citizen trusts the least. This was the
case in the 2001 CEP study. At that time people trusted most the President of the Republic, the
National Election Commission and religious organizations (CEP, 2001). More recently, the
2005 UTRESP study on governance and corruption also pointed to a lack of trust in police and
justice bodies.
As regards “observance of the law”, the results of the 2006 Governance Index (World Bank,
2007) show that Mozambique’s performance is around 34%, compared with 67% in Botswana
for example. (Figure 3.2.2). 15
15
The governability index study evaluates degrees of accordance or not with such aspects of conduct as: breaking the law in general; tax evasion; traffic offences, bribing a policeman;
and stealing private property.
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Civil Society Index, Mozambique 2007