GOVERNMENT MOBILIZING FUNDING FOR BY-ELECTIONS

The Mozambican government is mobilizing funding to organize by-elections following the resignation of Arnaldo Maloa e Sadique Yacub, Mayors of Cuamba and Pemba municipalities, in the northern province of Niassa and Cabo Delgado. José Tsamba, deputy Minister of State Administration, is quoted by the daily paper “Diario de Mocambique” as saying earlier this week in Maputo that “after the resignation of these Mayors there is nothing left other then to seek funding to organize by-elections, as stated by the law”. He was unable to disclose the sum required to organize these by-lections. On the 1 August, the then mayor of Cuamba submitted his resignation letter. He was later followed by Sadique Yacub, and both are accused of mismanagement, corruption and ignoring party hierarchy.Arnaldo Maloa is also accused of arrogance and abuse of power and turning a deaf ear to the recommendations made by his party (Frelimo) and failure to implement its manifesto for the 2008 municipal elections. Meanwhile, Sadique Yacub’s problems started just after his election in 2008. Few months after his election clashes began to emerge between him and party members. One group even sent a letter to the party’s President, Armando Guebuza, denouncing Yacub’s poor performance and relationships with the structures of the party.Also there are indications that Pio Matos, mayor of Quelimane, capital of the central province of Zambezia, is about to announce his resignation for the same reasons. For some time now, Pio Matos and his staff have been at loggerheads with the members of the Municipal Assembly, who accuse his leadership for systematic delays in payment of their allowances and other perks. Earlier this week, the daily paper o “O Pais” reported that the ruling Frelimo asked five Mayors to submit their resignation letters within the next few days. These include Jorge Macuacua, Mayor of Chokwe and Alberto Chicuamba, Mayor of Manhiça from the southern provinces of Gaza and Maputo respectively. Calls for their resignation follow a recent report compiled by a special team mandated by Frelimo’s Political Commission to establish on the ground veracity of the facts denounced by local residents.Arnaldo Maloa was the first to heed the calls, and on 1st August submitted his letter of resignation to the Municipal Assembly of Cuamba, Niassa second largest town.Meanwhile, they will be temporarily replaced by the chairpersons of the Municipal Assemblies, while by-elections are being organized.