The European Union Election Observation Mission presents its final report, including 20 recommendations to improve future electoral processes

Maputo, 12 February 2020. – The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Mozambique presented today its final report on the General and Provincial Assembly Elections of 15 October 2019. The EU EOM shared the content of the report with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, CNE, STAE, Constitutional Council, Supreme Court, political parties and civil society.

The final report, in addition to offering a detailed analysis of all phases of the electoral process, concludes with 20 recommendations aimed at improving future elections. Priority recommendations included the following:

1. State institutions, namely the CNE, should take full responsibility for the integrity of the electoral process by adopting measures to address the consequences of electoral offences and malpractices during voting, counting and tabulation of results to diminish their impact on the election results.

2. Adopt and enforce policies for the police to act impartially and free from political influence at all levels, ensuring that those responsible for violations of human rights and rule of law namely during electoral periods are held accountable.

3. State authorities should take responsibility in protecting the full enjoyment of fundamental freedoms of candidates, namely the right to freedom of assembly and conduct campaign activities in a safe environment, free from violent acts against party members and supporters. Political parties should also play a role in dissuading their members and supporters from interfering in the campaign activities of other parties.

4. Create a safe and intimidation-free environment for the participation of election observers and party representatives in political and electoral affairs.

5. Reintroduce the second layer of scrutiny for invalid ballots with a requalification of these by district election commissions, given the significant percentage of ballots that were requalified as valid in previous elections and the discrepancy of interpretations in what constitutes a valid ballot.

6. Provide CNE budgetary independence through direct and timely access to the funds approved in the National General Budget, avoiding that the release of funds for the conduct of the elections, including the public financing for campaign activities, is dependent on the government.

7. Implement a more effective CNE public communication strategy, including the prompt and complete publication of all decisions, the conduct of regular consultative meetings with political parties, and the continuous dissemination of information to all stakeholders, especially in the immediate pre and post electoral period.

8. Increase transparency and confidence in the electoral process by publishing original copies of polling station results for public verification on the CNE website.

9. Establish and maintain, through updates in election years, a reliable permanent voter register that enjoys stakeholder confidence and that accurately reflects the number of voters in each province.

Following publication of the EU EOM Mozambique 2019 final report, the Chief of Mission and member of the European Parliament, Nacho Sánchez Amor, highlighted once again the European Union's commitment to strengthening democracy in Mozambique. ‘We hope that these recommendations will serve as the basis for opening a political debate identifying the reforms needed to strengthen stakeholder confidence in future electoral processes’.

The EU EOM was present in Mozambique from 31 August until 13 November, and deployed 170 observers from 28 Member States of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and Canada.

***

For further information, please contact:

Silvia DE FÉLIX, Press and Public Outreach Officer

Phone: +258 87 895 9870

E-mail: silvia.defelix@eueom-mozambique2019.eu