Mozambique: National Electoral Commission

CNE/STAE

Updated July 2009

The National Electoral Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições), CNE) is established by Law 8/2007 (Articles 1 - 3, Anexo 3). The CNE is responsible for supervising voter registration, the conduct of elections and holding of referenda (Law 8/2007, 2002, 2). The CNE is an independent body subordinate only to the constitution (and therefore the Constitutional Council), while a number of other subordinate organs are answerable to it alone (Law 8/2007, 3, 28.2.). However, complaints about the CNE are submitted to the Constitutional Council (Law 8/2007, 8).

Composition

The Commission consists of 13 members, which include a president. Members must be citizens of Mozambique, professionals and over 25 years old (Law 8/2007, 4).

Five members are designated by parties/coalitions in the Assembly of the Republic according to proportional representation and eight members are chosen by the first five from nominees by civil society bodies. The president is elected by the 13 from among the eight civil society representatives (Law 8/2007, 5).

A representative of the government has the right to attend meetings and to speak but has no vote (Law 8/2007, 6).

Members of the commission may not hold elective or administrative public posts and offices (Law 8/2007, 14). No provisions are made for the removal of members from office.

Term of Office

The term of office of the CNE is five years and new commissioners must be appointed within 60 days "after the start of each legislative period" (Law 8/2007, 11).

Functioning

The CNE is organised into the following divisions (Law 8/2007, 24):

  • Organisation and operations commission.
  • Legal and deontological affairs commission.
  • Training and civic education commission.
  • Administration and finance commission.
  • Internal and external relations commission.
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References

LAW 8/2007 of 26 February (governs the National Electoral Commission) replaces Law no 20/2002
For Portuguese see: Lei no 8/2007, [www] http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/MZ/mocambique-lei-n-8-2007-in-portuguese/at_download/file [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 9 Mar 2010).

Official web site

CNE/STAE: http://www.stae.org.mz/ [opens new window] (accessed 9 Mar 2010).