Mozambique: Party registration and code of conduct

Updated July 2009

Party registration

Political parties are required to register with the Ministry of Justice in terms of Law 7/91 ("Political Parties Law"). Registration with the Ministry of Justice is necessary to function as a political organisation, but is not sufficient to ensure participation in an election, for the party must also seek accreditation with the National Electoral Commission (CNE).

Code of conduct

The CNE is tasked by electoral law with approving a Code of Conduct governing candidates, political parties, party coalitions and citizen groups taking part in an election (Law 8/2007, 7.1.l)). Political parties registered for an election by the CNE are invited to a workshop by the CNE, before an election, at which they are required to sign an electoral code of conduct. This was the case in 1994 (Lodge et al 2002, 218) and again in 2004 (EISA 2004, 20), but not, apparently, in 1999. The 2004 Code contained 19 articles which committed parties to "tolerance and democratic coexistence" and to compliance with electoral law (Nuvunga 2005, 69).

References

EISA 2004, EISA Observer Mission report: 2004 [PDF document], 27.

LAW 8/2007 of 26 February (governs the National Electoral Commission) replaces Law 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).

LODGE, L, KADIMA, D & POTTIE, D 2002 (eds), Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa, EISA, 193-208.

NUVUNGA, A (ed), 2005, Multiparty Democracy in Mozambique: Strengths, Weaknesses and Challenges [PDF document], EISA Research Report No 14.